THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


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Chapter Year 

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The  Life  Story  oi  Franklin  Wilson, 


AS  TOLD  BY  HIMSELF  IN  HIS  JODRNES. 


do   desire  to   be   useful    in    Planting-  the   Standard   of   the    Cross   all 
over  our  destitute   State." — F.  W.,  1846. 


baltimore  : 

Wharton  &  Barron  Publishing  Co. 

1897. 


COPYRIGHTED,    1897, 

By  Wharton  &  Barron  Publishing  Co 


■7^^ 


2  [^ 


in 

02 


DKDICATION. 


This  life  story  of  one  so  consecrated  to  the  service 
of  God  is  given  to  the  world  in  response  to  a  reso- 
lution passed  by  the  Maryland  Baptist  Union  Associa- 
tion, requesting  its  publication. 

As  far  as  possible  it  is  told  in  his  own  words,  taken 
from  a  journal  kept  by  him  for  many  years.  We  hope 
that  some  who  read  this  story  may  be  led  to  follow 
him,  as  he  followed  Christ,  and  that  thus  "He  being- 
dead  shall  yet  speak." 

To  the  Baptists  of  Maryland,  whom  he  loved  and 
served,  this  simple  memorial  is  affectionately  dedicated 

BY    HIS    FAMILY. 


"A  spirit  meek,  in  self-abasement  clad, 
Yet  here  at  least,  though  few  have  numbered  days 
That  shunned  so  modestly  the  light  of  praise. 
His  graceful  manners,  and  the  temperate  ray 
Of  that  arch  fancy,  which  would  round  him  play, 
Brightening  a  converse  never  known  to  swerve 
From  courtesy  and  delicate  reserve." 


Ilvlvl  TSTRATIONS. 


Portrait  of  1880     .... 

Frontispiece. 

Miniature  of  1834 

13 

Portrait   of    1848     .... 

34 

Franklin  Square  Baptist  Church     . 

.         48 

House  at  "Oakley" 

lOI 

Portrait   of   1896    .... 

.       109 

CONTKNTTS. 


CHAPTER   THE    FIRST. 

PAGE. 

Childhood  and  Youth ii 


CHAPTER   THE    SECOND. 
Ordination — Marriage  ......  27 

CHAPTER    THE    THIRD. 

Editorship  —  Other  Literary  Work — Domestic  Afflic- 
tions      ..........  40 

CHAPTER   THE    FOURTH. 
The  War  Period  .......  53 

CHAPTER   THE    FIFTH. 
Female  House  of  Refuge — Other  Charitable  Work     .  67 

CHAPTER   THE    SIXTH. 

Partial   Loss  of  Sight  —  Authorship  —  Increasing  and 

Varied  Activities  ......  78 

CHAPTER   THE    SEVENTH. 

Anniversaries — Sickness — Last   Years  ...  08 


10  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   THE    EIGHTH. 

PAGE. 

Last  Days — The  Summer  of  1896 — Failing  Strength — 

The  Passing  Away — Funeral  Services    .  .  .  107 

CHAPTER    THE    NINTH. 
Personal  Characteristics — Christian  Citizenship   .  .  117 

CHAPTER    THE    TENTH. 
Extracts  from  Letters  ......  124 


THE  LIFE  STORY  OF  FRANKLIN  WILSON. 


CHAPTER  I. 

CHILDHOOD    AND    YOUTH 

"The  childhood  shows  the  man 
As  morning  shows  the  day." 

— Milton. 

Franklin  Wilson  was  born  in  Baltimore,  December 
8,  1822,  in  the  house  now  numbered  18  E.  Lexington 
street,  betw^een  Charles  and  St.  Paul.  His  grand- 
father, William  Wilson,  came  to  this  country  from 
Ireland  in  1770.  He  settled  in  Baltimore  and  estab- 
lished the  shipping  house  of  Wm.  Wilson  &  Sons, 
which  continued  over  one  hundred  years,  and  traded 
with  all  parts  of  the  world.  They  owaied  a  large  fleet 
of  ships,  and  conducted  a  successful  and  honorable 
business,  equalled  by  very  few^  in  its  duration  and 
extent.  After  the  death  of  William  Wilson  the  busi- 
ness was  carried  on  by  his  sons,  James,  William  and 
Thomas,  and  their  descendants. 

Thomas,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  mar- 


12  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

ried  on  May  5,  181 5,  Mary  Cruse,  in  Alexandria,  Va. 
She  was  a  most  beautiful  young  woman,  as  well  as  an 
earnest,  enthusiastic  Christian.  Franklin  was  the 
fourth  son  and  the  fifth  child  of  his  parents.  The 
untimely  death  of  his  lovely  young  mother,  in  March, 
1824,  left  him  an  infant  of  thirteen  months,  to  the  care 
of  a  cousin,  Miss  Priscilla  Stansbury,  and  faithfully  did 
she  discharge  the  trust.  His  mother's  death  allowed 
him  no  recollection  of  her  that  he  might  cherish  in 
after  years,  and  all  through  his  life  he  experienced  a 
want  that  no  one,  however  devoted,  could  fill. 

His  infant  years  were  partly  spent  at  his  grand- 
father's in  Miss  Stansbury's  care.  She  devoted  herself 
to  the  motherless  children  until  they  had  homes  of  their 
own.  She  was  a  thoroughly  devout  and  sincere 
Christian,  most  conscientious  in  her  care,  and  was 
always  spoken  of  with  the  warmest  affection  and 
gratitude. 

His  boyhood  was  spent  in  the  Lexington  street 
house  during  the  winter,  and  the  summers  at  "Oak 
Lawn,"  a  beautiful  country  place  at  Huntingdon,  now 
Waverly.  There,  with  his  many  cousins,  he  spent 
some  of  the  pleasantest  days  of  his  life,  roaming  over 
the  country,  fishing,  hunting  and  taking  his  part  in  all 
the  sports  peculiar  to  the  boyhood  of  an  active,  ener- 
getic youth.     The  memory  of  these  days  was  so  de- 


MINIATURE,    1S34. 


The  Life  Story  of  FranJdin  Wilson.  13 

lightful  that  they  stood  out  as  in  rehef,  and  he  loved  to 
speak  of  them  to  his  children  after  the  passing  of  many 
years.  At  this  time  he  was  the  happy  possessor  of  a 
little  waistcoat  which  had  solid  silver  ball  buttons. 
They  had  been  taken  from  his  mother's  riding  habit, 
and  were  afterward  melted  and  transformed  into  some 
article  of  tableware.  One  of  his  greatest  childish  en- 
joyments was  riding  horses  made  of  slender  shoots 
from  the  trees  which  grew  along  the  brook  in  "Oak 
Lawn."  Each  horse  was  named  and  kept  carefully 
stabled  under  the  large  porch  which  surrounded  the 
house.  The  races  between  these  steeds,  ridden  by 
himself,  his  brothers  and  his  cousins,  were  events  of 
great  importance  in  his  young  imagination. 

When  ten  years  of  age  he  was  placed  at  Mount  Hope, 
a  boarding  school  then  in  the  country,  but  the  location 
of  which  was  near  where  Park  avenue  and  Wilson 
street  now  intersect.  The  scholars  wore  a  quaint  uni- 
form, the  coats  adorned  with  huge  rolling  collars  and 
double  rows  of  brass  buttons,  with  high  black  ''stocks" 
around  the  neck.  A  miniature  of  Franklin,  painted  at 
this  time  (1834),  is  given. 

This  school  was  proud  to  number  among  its  profes- 
sors Dr.  Horatio  B.  Hackett,  afterward  one  of  the 
foremost  Greek  scholars  in  the  world. 

Franklin  was  a  very  precocious  boy,  beginning  Latin 


14  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

when  only  seven  years  of  age,  and  going  tlirv>iigh  the 
Freshman  year  at  Mt.  Hope  before  he  was  thirteen. 
He  says  of  himself:  "Here  I  applied  myself  diligently 
and  stood  pretty  well  on  the  roll-book  of  the  school. 
1;Ut  I  en  red  not  for  God,  and  though  I  repeated  my 
pra}^ers  at  night,  my  heart  was  filled  with  all  unright- 
eousness. At  this  time  there  was  a  revival  in  our 
church,  and  I  was  mujh  affected.  I  did  not  then  know 
what  true  religion  was,  but  knew  I  was  not  living  as  I 
ought.  I  determined  to  embrace  religion  when  I  was 
of  a  sufficient  age.  I  got  up  what  I  called  a  non-swear- 
ing society,  as  some  of  the  boys,  I  am  ashamed  to  say, 
were  in  the  habit  of  using  profane  language.  1  now 
resolved  to  try  and  reform  them.  For  sometime  it 
went  on  very  well,  but  at  last  they  made  a  resolution 
that  if  anyone  should  l^e  detected  in  using  profane 
words,  he  should  pay  the  fine  in  cakes  and  apples. 
From  this  cause  it  quickly  degenerated  into  a  mere 
eating  society,  and  I  in  disgust  left  it.  My  religious 
feelings  clung  to  me  for  about  a  month,  and  then  grad- 
ually wore  off." 

When  considering  where  to  send  his  sons  to  com- 
plete their  education,  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson  was  influ- 
enced by  Dr.  Hackett,  who  had  become  a  professor  in 
Brown  University,  to  place  his  two  boys,  Wm.  Thomas 
and  Franklin,  under  his  care.     Accordingly  in  Sep- 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  15 

tember,  1836,  they  were  both  entered  in  that  institution, 
Frankhn  being  obhged,  on  account  of  his  youth,  to  go 
over  the  Freshman  year  again.  During  his  course  at 
Brown,  spent  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  president. 
Dr.  Francis  Wayland,  and  with  congenial  employment 
and  surroundings,  his  mind  grew  and  expanded,  and 
his  views  of  life  broadened.  He  was,  however,  as  yet 
untouched  l:)y  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  rather  in- 
clined, with  some  of  his  classmates,  to  look  lightly  upon 
such  matters.  As  he  said  in  after  life:  "God  merci- 
fully taught  me  to  see  my  true  condition,  and  the  year 
1838  was  ever  memorable  to  me  as  the  most  blessed 
one  of  my  life.  Immediately  after  the  day  of  prayer 
for  colleges  in  February,  1838,  a  deep  interest  in  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  their  friends  was  kindled  among 
the  pious  students,  and  the  conversation  of  one  of  them 
with  me  was  blessed  to  my  conviction  of  the  need  of  a 
Saviour.  I  gave  up  my  studies  and  companions  for 
the  time,  in  the  earnest  search  after  the  'one  thing- 
needful.'  One  evening  the  president.  Dr.  Wayland, 
urged  the  students  to  make  'one  honest  effort'  to  give 
their  hearts  to  Christ — an  address  which  was  blessed 
to  the  conversion  of  Thomas  S.  Malcolm,  and  which  he 
has  made  memorable  by  his  tract  with  that  title,  pub- 
lished by  the  million,  in  several  languages.  I  resolved 
to  follow  his  example  and  make  the  effort,  but  my 


16  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

mindVas  in  a  whirl  of  anxiety  and  distress,  'like  the 
troubled  sea  that  cannot  rest.'  Just  then,  to  my  aston- 
ishment, my  dear  friend,  Dodge  (Dr.  Eben  Dodge, 
afterward  president  of  Colgate  University),  whom  I 
had  not  seen  for  a  day  or  two,  called  on  me  to  plead 
with  me  to  believe  on  Jesus.  He  said  he  had  been 
awakened  by  hearing  of  my  conviction,  that  he  had  at 
once  recognized  the  reasonableness,  the  mercy  and  the 
goodness  of  the  Saviour's  demands  upon  his  heart  and 
life,  and  had  yielded  joyfully  and  gratefully  to  them. 
He  was  now  a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  was 
imspeakably  happy  in  the  change.  He  asked  me  to 
walk  with  him.  It  was  a  beautiful  day  in  March.  The 
sky  was  clear  and  blue,  the  sunlight  warm  and  bright, 
the  birds  were  singing  sweetly,  the  snow  was  melting, 
and  all  nature  was  rejoicing  in  the  tokens  of  spring. 
Said  he,  my  mind  is  like  this  day,  all  the  darkness  has 
gone  and  light  and  joy  has  filled  my  soul.  As  he  went 
on  telling  me  of  the  sweetness  and  glory  of  his  new 
found  hope  in  Jesus,  it  encouraged  me  in  my  gloom.  I 
felt  that  the  same  Saviour  who  had  blessed  my  friend 
had  equal  power  to  bless  me,  and  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore I  too  trusted  'Him  who  is  mighty  to  save.'  " 

From  this  time  his  purpose  in  life  was  changed,  his 
one  idea  being  to  advance  the  kingdom  of  the  Master 
he  loved  to  serve.     On  his  return  to  Baltimore  in  the 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  17 

spring  he  was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  Stephen  P.  Hill,  in 
the  "Spring  Gardens,''  then  a  lovely  sheet  of  water. 
Speaking  of  it  in  his  journal  he  says:  '1  was  baptized 
on  April  22,  1838.  That  day,  I  think,  was  one  of  the 
happiest  of  my  life.  It  was  a  beautiful  spring  morning, 
the  trees  above,  just  covered  with  the  fresh  green 
leaves,  were  waving  in  a  mild  and  delightful  breeze,  the 
water  was  sparkling  in  the  sun,  and  as  I  followed  my 
Redeemer  into  the  liquid  grave,  my  heart  was  filled 
with  joy  and  peace.  Oh,  what  Christian  would  wish 
to  omit  this  most  delightful  ordinance.  They  cannot 
know  the  happiness  of  following  their  Redeemer  into 
His  watery  tomb,  or  they  would  never  be  willing  to 
annihilate  this  most  sacred  pledge  of  a  renewed  and 
sanctified  nature.  God  grant  that  I  may  always  re- 
member my  baptismal  vow,  and  may  its  remembrance 
be  in  the  weary  course  of  my  life  on  earth,  as  the  fresh 
and  verdant  oasis  to  the  panting  traveler  in  the  desert." 
The  year  that  followed  was  one  of  spiritual  growth 
and  of  great  happiness.  Writing  in  March,  1839,  on 
the  anniversary  of  his  conversion,  he  says:  "This  is 
to  me  a  peculiarly  interesting  season.  It  was  at  this 
time  last  year  that  God  in  His  mercy  called  me  from 
the  world  into  His  service,  that  I  obtained  a  hope  of  a 
blessed  immortality  through  the  blood  of  Jesus.     Oh, 


18  The  Life  Story  of  FranMin  ^Yilson. 

how  grateful  I  should  be  to  my  Father  for  His  kind- 
ness. ^'  '^^  '^''  The  past  year  has  been  the  happiest 
of  my  life;  my  only  sorrow  has  been  my  cold  and  indif- 
ferent heart.  '^  *  '^  Before,  I  sougfht  pleasure  in 
things  of  sense,  in  outward  comforts;  now  I  have 
learned  to  look  within  for  true  peace.  '^  '•'  *  Oh, 
that  others  may  see  that  I  have  been  with  Jesus  and 
learned  of  Him,  that  they,  through  me,  might  be 
brought  to  accept  of  salvation."     . 

This  now  seemed  to  be  the  spirit  that  possessed  his 
soul,  and  again  and  again  we  find  in  his  journal  expres- 
sions such  as  ''Oh,  that  I  may  love  my  Father  more  for 
His  goodness  to  me;  that  I  may  serve  Him  faithfully, 
and  recommend  by  my  example  that  Saviour  whom  I 
love,  to  all  my  friends."  From  week  to  week  the 
Christian  students  met  for  prayer  and  conversation, 
feeling  the  need  for  something  more  than  the  regular 
college  prayer-meeting.  Of  one  of  these  he  speaks: 
''Last  Thursday  the  pious  students  met,  according  to 
custom,  to  prepare  their  hearts  for  the  coming  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  (day  of  prayer  for  colleges).  After 
several  affecting  prayers  had  been  offered,  dear 
Brother  Dodge  arose  and  feelingly  pointed  the  atten- 
tion of  Christians  to  the  scenes  of  last  year,  when  from 
the  prayers  uttered  on  that  day,  he  and  I  and  others 
were  brought,  as  we  trust,  from  the  road  of  sin  and 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  19 

death  to  the  hoHness  and  hfe  of  the  gospel.  *  *  * 
It  seemed  as  if  the  hearts  of  all  of  us  were  fixed  upon 
one  object,  the  conversion  of  souls,  and  we  hope  to 
see  many  turning  to  God." 

The  winter  of  1839  ^^^  spent  in  Baltimore,  partly  on 
account  of  the  weakness  of  his  eyes,  and  partly  because 
the  increasing  feebleness  of  his  father  seemed  to  de- 
mand that  one  of  his  sons  should  be  constantly  near 
him.  That  he  dreaded  the  change  can  hardly  be  sur- 
prising, as  he  felt  that  he  should  miss  the  daily  stimulus 
of  association  with  his  fellow-students,  and  the  loving- 
companionship  of  those  who  had  especially  endeared 
themselves  to  him.  But  the  year  thus  spent  in  com- 
parative retirement  was  not  lost,  for  while  he  laments 
his  coldness  of  heart,  in  reality  it  was  a  most  fruitful 
year,  both  to  himself  and  to  his  family.  He  says :  ''A 
few  weeks  after  my  return.  Rev.  Mr.  Knapp  came  to 
Baltrmore;  a  revival  commenced,  and  is  now  in  active 
progress.  Thus  far  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
have  been  baptized,  and  the  work  is  still  going  on."  A 
beloved  brother  and  sister  professed  conversion  at  this 
time,  as  also  many  other  relatives  and  friends.  His 
own  heart  was  quickened  and  revived.  Again  he 
writes,  on  December  2,  speaking  of  Mr.  Knapp:  *'He 
went  away  on  Monday  morning,  leaving  the  city  far 
different  in  a  religious  view  from  what  he  found  it. 


20  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Nearly  two  hundred  have  joined  our  church,  and  many 
those  of  other  denominations."  After  speaking  of  Mr. 
Knapp's  personal  appearance  he  says:  ''I  esteem  him 
very  much,  and  like  his  preaching,  but  of  course  he  has 
his  peculiarities.  He  has  gone,  God  be  thanked  for  his 
coming." 

In  January,  1840,  when  seventeen  years  old,  he  or- 
ganized a  Bible  class  for  young  ladies,  distributed 
tracts  and  aided  in  many  ways  the  work  of  the  church. 

In  September,  1840,  he  re-entered  Brown  Univer- 
sity. He  says:  ''I  attended  with  sorrowful  heart  the 
commencement  of  my  former  and  much-loved  class." 
Of  this  class,  the  "National  Baptist,"  on  the  occasion 
of  its  fiftieth  anniversary  in  1890,  says:  "TheToU  con- 
tains the  names  of  men  widely  known  in  educational, 
ministerial  and  business  circles.  Among  the  educa- 
tors are  Dr.  Boise,  formerly  of  the  Seminary  of  Mor- 
gan Park;  Dr.  Dodge,  president  of  Colgate  Univer- 
sity; Dr.  Kendrick,  acting  president  of  Vassar;  Dr. 
Brantley,  of  Georgia  University;  Dr.  Lincoln,  of  New- 
ton, and  Dr.  Weston,  of  Crozer,  *  '^  "^  beside 
men  of  lasting  influence  for  good,  such  as  Dr.  Frank- 
lin Wilson,  of  Baltimore,  so  well  known  in  that  city 
and  State  for  his  life-long  beneficence  and  devotion  to 
all  good."     Mr.  Wilson  was  a  member  of  the  Alpha 


The  Life  Siory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  21 

Delta  Phi,  and  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  fraternities,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1 84 1  graduated  with  high  honors. 

Immediately  afterward  he  was  again  forced  to  give 
up  his  studies  on  account  of  his  eyes,  suffering  much 
pain  and  inconvenience  for  over  four  months.  As 
soon  as  his  eyes  allowed  it,  however,  he  again  took  a 
class  in  Sunday-school,  and  often  spoke  in  the  lecture- 
room,  carefully  preparing  himself  beforehand.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1 84 1,  he  attended,  as  a  delegate  from  the  First 
Church,  the  Maryland  Baptist  Union  Association, 
which  met  in  Washington,  and  enjoyed  the  sessions. 
About  this  time  he  says:  ''About  two  months  ago  my 
eyes  became  strong  enough  to  enable  me  to  read  two 
or  three  hours  a  day,  though  even  yet  I  cannot  read 
much  at  night.  Since  then  I  have  read  through 
Josephus,  Buckland's  Geology,  Whatley's  Rhetoric, 
Todd's  Sunday-school  Teacher,  Chalmers  on  Man,  a 
good  many  of  Robert  Hall's  discourses.  Skinner's  and 
Kirk's  sermons,  and  various  other  miscellaneous  and 
religious  writings.  I  am  now  engaged  in  reading 
Home's  Introduction  and  Bloomfield's  Greek  Testa- 
ment, in  connection  with  Barnes'  and  Ripley's  Notes." 

On  February  23,  1842,  when  but  two  months  over 
nineteen  years,  he  preached  his  first  sermon  in  the 
Plrst  Church,  from  Mat.  IX,  37th  and  38th  verses.  It 
was  on  the  day  of  prayer  for  colleges,  and  it  was  an 


22  ■  The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

interesting  coincidence  that  on  that  day  just  four  years 
before  he  had  first  found  peace  in  believing  on  Christ. 
On  the  following  June  he  resolved  to  attempt  to  speak 
extemporaneously  at  the  Pikesville  Church,  ten  miles 
from  Baltimore,  where  meetings  were  being  held. 
After  this  he  spoke  wherever  he  found  opportunity, 
thus  beginning  what  was  ever  afterward  his  greatest 
joy  and  privilege  through  life.  Nothing  gave  him 
more  pleasure  than  to  preach  to  others  the  gospel,  the 
joys  of  which  he  himself  possessed.  During  this 
month  he  preached  for  the  first  time  at  Sater's,  the  old- 
est Baptist  church  in  Maryland,  and  also  at  Hunting- 
don meeting. 

For  sometime  his  great  desire  had  been  to  prepare 
himself  more  fully  for  the  Christian  ministry,  and  to 
this  end  he  entered  Newton  Theological  Seminary  in 
October,  1842,  remaining  until  the  following  April 
vacation,  when  he  had  the  pleasure  of  attending  an- 
other series  of  meetings  conducted  by  Mr.  Knapp,  and 
taking  quite  an  active  part.  At  this  time  he  was  again 
occupied  in  the  care  of  his  father  and  brother,  both  of 
whom  were  dangerously  ill.  After  his  return  to 
Newton  he  remained,  with  some  interruptions,  till 
June,  1844,  when  he  was  again  called  to  Baltimore  by 
the  illness  of  his  father.  At  this  time  he  says,  Novem- 
ber, 1844:     'T  found  I  must  relinquish  all  idea  of  re- 


The  Life  Slonj  of  Franklin  Wilson.  23 

turning  to  Newton  for  the  present,  and  concluded  to 
try  and  make  myself  useful  at  home.     I  have  accord- 
ingly preached  since  the  ninth  of  June  thirty-three 
times,  more  than  ever  before  in  my  life.     On  that  day  I 
preached  at  Sater's  to  a  large  congregation.-     *     * 
I  preached  very  frequently  at  Huntingdon  in  the  'bar- 
racks' (formerly  used  by  United  States  soldiers,  and 
abandoned),  and  the  attendance  was  so  good  that  many 
were  obliged  to  leave  without  finding  seats.     On  Sun- 
day, October  20,  a  neat  little  chapel,  built  by  my  Uncle 
James  Wilson,  was  dedicated  there.     Messrs.   Web- 
ster, Aldrich,  Ripley,  Healey  and  myself  conducting 
the  services.     Mr.  Hill  preached  the  sermon.     In  the 
evening   I   preached."      On   February    12,    1845,    his 
father,  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  died,  in  the  sixty-eighth 
year  of  his  age.     He  speaks  of  this  event  as  follows: 
"I  take  up  my  pen  again  to  record  a  sad  event  which 
has  clothed  our  family  in  mourning,  and  has  been  the 
heaviest  affliction  we  have  been  called  upon  to  bear.     I 
have  been,  since  last  June,  constantly  with  my  dear 
father,  and  have  had  the  privilege  of  ministering  to  his 
infirmities,  but  he  has  now  gone  from  earth.     *     *     * 
Our  grief  was  deep,  for  this  sad  blow  fell  suddenly  upon 
us,  although  we  had  long  been  expecting  it.     I  need 
not  record  his  virtues,  or  my  own  feelings  at  his  loss. 
The  one  I  can  never  forget,  the  other  is  unnecessary. 


24  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

The  funeral  took  place  on  February  15,  and  was  largely 
attended.  The  flags  on  the  shipping  in  port  were  at 
half-mast  all  that  day,  in  honor  to  his  memory.  May 
God  sanctify  this  blow  to  us,  and  as  He  has  taken  away 
our  father  on  earth,  may  He  lead  us  to  set  all  our  affec- 
tions on  Him  as  our  Father  in  heaven." 

Writing  on  May  29  he  says:  ''Since  my  last  record 
my  time  has  been  spent  in  a  manner  varying  from  that 
of  any  former  period  of  my  life,  and  I  have  approached 
more  nearly  the  regular  duties  of  the  pastoral  office. 
1  have  reason  to  think  that  my  labor  has  not  been  in 
vain.  *  '•■'  *  A  revival  commenced  in  the  Hunt- 
ingdon Church,  where  I  preach,  and  several  have  given 
their  hearts  to  God."  At  this  time  he  was  much  occu- 
pied with  active  labors  in  connection  with  the  unhappy 
dissentions  in  the  First  Church.  He  mentions  it  as 
follows:  'The  Lord  has  laid  me  under  unspeakable 
obligations  to  praise  Him  for  using  me  as  an  instru- 
men  in  promoting  His  cause."  And  again:  *T  think 
all  difficulty  is  over.  ^  ^  *  wTq  have  been  har- 
rassed,  broken  down,  scattered  and  distressed.  God 
grant  that  a  brighter  era  may  now  dawn  upon  us." 

In  1844  we  find  the  name  of  Franklin  Wilson  for  the 
first  time  on  the  executive  board  of  the  Maryland  Bap- 
tist Union  Association  of  that  year,  and  from  that  time 
his  name  occurs  almost  constantly  in  the  minutes,  indi- 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  25 

eating  the  active  part  he  was  taking  in  the  work  of  the 
denomination. 

On  July  i6, 1845.  he  sailed,  in  company  with  his  sister 
and  cousin,  for  Europe,  taking  passage  for  Liverpool 
from  New  York  in  the  ship  ''Fidelia."  The  voyage  of 
twenty-one  days  was  a  great  delig'ht  to  him,  and  he 
often  spoke  of  the  beauty  of  the  new  vessel  on  her 
maiden  voyage,  the  snowy  sails  forming  three  beautiful 
arches  above  the  deck,  and  the  entire  absence  of  all  dis- 
agreeable noise,  dirt  or  confusion;  the  bounding  over 
the  waters,  and  the  joy  of  the  calm  while  lying  motion- 
less as  on  a  sea  of  glass.  On  such  a  day  as  this,  when 
all  nature  was  in  perfect  repose,  he  preached  to  an  at- 
tentive congregation,  using  as  his  pulpit  the  capstan, 
draped  with  the  American  flag.  •  The  entire  trip  was 
enthusiastically  enjoyed,  his  only  regret  being  that  its 
brevity  prevented  a  visit  to  the  Continent,  beyond  a 
short  stay  in  France  and  a  few  days  in  Paris.  The 
health  of  his  cousin  being  delicate,  it  became  impera- 
tive for  them  to  return  before  the  coming  of  cold 
weather.  The  homeward  voyage  of  thirteen  days  in 
the  steamship  ''Caledonia"  was  most  prosaic  beyond  a 
severe  storm  of  several  days.  He  often  spoke  of  the 
contrast  between  the  creaking,  groaning  steamer,  with 
its  many  disagreeable  accompanWents,  and  the  beau- 
tiful ship  "Fidelia."     As  a  result  of  this  voyage  his 


26  The  Lifv  tilonj  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

health  was  very  mucli  improved,  and  his  weight  on 
landing  was  135  pounds;  more  than  at  any  other  period 
of  his  life. 

We  have  now  followed  him  through  the  period  of 
childhood,  youth  and  early  manhood,  and  see  him 
standing  hopefully  looking  out  upon  the  future,  eager 
to  enter  upon  the  work  of  the  Master  with  his  whole 
heart  and  soul.  His  student  life  had  been  so  broken 
in  upon  by  his  own  sickness  and  that  of  his  family  that 
he  had  been  able  to  do  very  little  continuous  work. 
He  never  seems  to  chafe  at  this,  but  bore  it  all  with  the 
same  beautiful  Christian  spirit  which  always  character- 
ized his  after  life.  He  only  regretted  his  own  want  of 
ability  as  he  expressed  it,  and  continually  prayed  for 
more  of  the  spirit  of  his  Divine  Master. 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 


CHAPTER  11. 

ORDINATION    AND    MARRIAGE. 

"A  guardian  angel  o'er  his  life  presiding, 
Doubling  his  pleasures,  and  his  cares  dividing." 

— Rogers. 

In  January,  1846,  Mr.  Wilson  was  ordained,  from 
thenceforth  consecrating  himself  entirely  and  tmceas- 
ingly  to  the  work  of  the  Lord.  Turning  to  his  journal 
we  find  his  own  account  of  this  most  interesting  occa- 
sion: "On  the  i8th  of  January  I  was  solemnly  or- 
dained to  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry.  The  ser- 
vices were  as  follows:  Reading  proceedings  of  coun- 
cil and  scripture  lesson,  Rev.  O.  W.  Briggs;  invoca- 
tion. Rev.  Mr.  Healy;  sermon  by  Rev.  Stephen  P.  Hill, 
from  the  text,  Then  He  breathed  on  them  and  said,  re- 
ceive ye  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  my  Father  hath  sent  Me, 
so  send  I  you.'  Rev.  F.  Bacon  delivered  the  charge; 
Mr.  Aldrich  made  the  ordaining  prayer;  Rev.  J.  S. 
Welch,  of  New  Jersey,  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, and  J.  A.  McKean  the  concluding  prayer.  The 
sermon  was  in  Mr.  Hill's  best  style.  The  address  in 
giving  the  hand  of  fellowship  most  beautiful  and  ten- 


28  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

der;  it  brought  tears  into  my  eyes,  and  affected  many 
deeply.  I  felt  much  impressed  with  the  overwhelming 
considerations  which  could  not  fail  to  present  them- 
selves to  my  mind  on  such  an  occasion.  I  hardly  ever 
in  my  life  felt  so  much  awed  as  at  the  though  of  the 
work  to  which  I  thus  publicly  consecrated  my  life. 
Oh  that  the  remembrance  of  that  vow  may  keep  me 
diligent,  active,  devoted.  Oh  that  God  may  strengthen 
me  to  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  in  a 
manner  that  He  can  consistently  bless  my  labors  to  the 
advancement  of  His  cause." 

One  of  the  religious  papers  (probably  the  Herald), 
speaking  at  the  time  of  this  event,  says:  "A  most  in- 
teresting service  was  held  in  the  First  Baptist  Church 
on  the  occasion  of  the  ordination  of  Brother  Franklin 
Wilson,  a  member  of  said  church.  '^  *  '^  For  a 
considerable  period  past  Brother  Wilson  has  preached 
regularly  in  the  Huntingdon  chapel  (built  by  his  uncle, 
Mr.  James  Wilson,  a  prominent  Baptist),  about  two 
miles  from  the  city.  His  gratuitous  labors  in  this  new 
field  and  in  others  are  highly  appreciated,  and  have 
been  blessed  with  encouraging  success.  As  may  be 
known,  he  is  a  young  brother  possessed  of  property, 
with  which  he  is  disposed  to  do  good,  and  thus  aug- 
ment his  usefulness  in  the  cause  of  Christian  philan- 
thropy." 


The  lAfe  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  29 

The  great  apostle  of  Biirmah,  Rev.  Adoniram  Jud- 
son,  had  been  expected  to  assist  in  these  services,  but 
arriving  too  late,  he  affixed  his  name  to  the  ordination 
certificate  of  the  young  minister,  both  in  English  and 
Burmese.  His  visit  was  a  great  source  of  inspiration, 
and  Mr.  Wilson  often  spoke  of  the  pleasure  he  enjoyed 
in  driving  him  about  the  city  in  his  buggy,  that  he 
might  point  out  to  him  some  of  its  attractions. 

Again  turning  to  his  journal  we  find  in  June  the  fol- 
lowing record:  "I  have  reason  to  erect  a  new  Eben- 
ezer  and  say  'hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  me.'  On 
the  4th  of  April  I  went  up  to  Pikesville  and  com- 
menced a  protracted  meeting.  With  the  assistance  of 
Brethren  McKean,  Hill  and  Adams,  it  was  continued 
for  several  weeks,  and  quite  a  number  of  conversions 
occurred.  On  the  loth  of  May  I  had  the  joyful  privi- 
lege of  constituting  a  church  at  Huntingdon.  *  '''  * 
I  was  obliged  to  preach  and  give  the  hand  of  fellowship 
alone,  but  I  enjoyed  the  services  highly.  Seven  per- 
sons formed  the  original  number,  but  on  the  next  Sat- 
urday, May  17,  I  baptized  fifteen,  and  on  the  31st  three 
more;  the  baptisms  presented  beautiful  solemn  scenes. 
On  each  occasion  a  large  number  were  present,  and  on 
the  last  it  was  probably  the  largest  assembly  which 
ever  met  in  the  vicinity  for  religious  purposes.  I  won- 
der, as  I  think  what  God  has  wrought  here.     Twenty- 


30  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

three  have  been  baptized  in  one  year  in  this  little  vil- 
lage, and  I  trust  they  are  all  truly  the  children  of  God." 

But  even  at  this  early  period  of  his  life  his  interest 
was  not  confined  to  the  narrow  sphere  of  the  village 
church  alone.  On  November  ii,  1846,  we  find  a  rec- 
ord of  a  visit  to  Cumberland,  in  company  with  the  Rev. 
Benj.  Griffith,  in  order  to  judge  of  the  desirability  of 
establishing  a  Baptist  church  there,  and  in  other  desti- 
tute places  in  that  neighborhood.  That  he  was  deeply 
stirred  by  what  he  saw  the  following  entry  shows: 
'This  visit  has  made  me  more  deeply  interested  than 
ever  in  promoting  our  views  of  truth  in  Maryland.  / 
do  desire  to  be  useftd  in  planting  ike  standard  of  the  cross 
all  over  onr  destitute  State." 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1847,  he  was  unanimously 
chosen  pastor  of  the  High  Street  Baptist  Church  of 
Baltimore.  Feeling  that  in  this  larger  field  he  would 
have  greater  opportunity  for  usefulness,  he  accepted 
the  call,  and  entered  into  his  labors  there  with  charac- 
teristic earnestness  and  enthusiasm.  The  church  was 
at  this  time  in  a  sad  condition,  almost  overcome  by 
debt,  its  members  scattered  and  many  of  them  luke- 
warm in  the  service  of  the  Alaster.  He  says,  writing 
of  the  installation  services:  'T  felt  very  solemn,  almost 
overwhelmed — even  more  than  when  first  ordained.  I 
have  indeed  taken  on  myself  a  great  burden.     '•'     *     * 


The  Life  ^lorij  of  Franklin  Wilson.  31 

I  have  determined  to  have  none  but  real  members.  "^ 
'''  *  The  interest  seems  increasing,  and  I  trust  the 
Lord  will  prosper  our  efforts.  In  May  he  baptized  one 
candidate,  the  first  who  had  ever  been  baptized  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  the  first  in  the  church  for  more 
than  two  years."  At  this  time  he  says:  "Begun  with 
Brother  Wilder  to  hold  services  at  Woodberry.  On 
two  occasions  we  had  large  congregations  in  the 
woods.  It  is  a  noble  field,  and  by  the  blessing  of  God 
I  am  resolved  to  prosecute  it  until  we  have  a  Baptist 
church  there."  In  the  minutes  of  the  Maryland  Bap- 
tist Union  Association  for  November,  1847,  we  find  his 
first  report  as  Secretary  of  the  Executive  Board,  an 
office  which  he  held  for  forty  years,  serving  the  Asso- 
ciation faithfully  without  compensation,  save  the  love 
and  respect  ever  given  to  him  by  his  brethren. 

At  this  time  he  was  also  much  occupied  in  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  to  save  the  Madison  street  meeting- 
house to  the  Baptists.  Even  then,  busy  in  all  direc- 
tions, willing  to  do  anything  and  everything,  "if  by  any 
means  he  might  save  some."  Before  the  close  of  the 
year  he  had  held  protracted  meetings  both  at  Cumber- 
land and  at  Hereford,  and  the  year  1848  found  him  still 
at  work,  looking  out  for  new  opportunities  for  enlarged 
usefulness.  On  April  23  was  consecrated  the  Rock- 
dale chapel,  a  handsome  stone  building  erected  near 


^>2  The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Woodberry,  entirely  at  his  own  expense,  at  a  cost  of 
$5000.  He  says:  "The  house  was  crowded,  attention 
eagerly  given,  and  I  felt  that  God  was  there.  May  He 
accept  this  offering  by  giving  us  a  blessing." 

In  speaking  of  his  work  at  High  Street  at  this  time, 
he  says:  ''After  visiting  A.  H.  and  M.  J.,  and  finding 
their  evidences  of  conversion  so  clear  and  bright,  I  was 
happier  than  if  I  had  been  presented  with  a  kingdom. 
I  received  a  large  instalment  of  my  salary  in  the  con- 
version of  these  young  ladies,  and  I  think  their  bap- 
tism the  most  beautiful  we  have  had."  V^ry  early  in 
his  Christian  life  he  consecrated  his  all  to  God's  ser- 
vice, and  always  gave  liberally  and  gladly  of  his  sub- 
stance. His  gifts  often  amounted  to  far  more  than  his 
own  yearly  expenses,  as  in  this  church,  he  refused  all 
salary,  urging  them  to  give  it  all  toward  the  payment 
of  their  indebtedness.  At  the  same  time  he  paid  the 
salary  of  Rev.  Wm.  Wilder,  who  had  succeeded  him  at 
the  Rockdale  and  Huntingdon  chapels. 

The  year  1848  was  destined  to  be  a  very  eventful  one 
in  his  life.  In  July  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  dear  friend, 
Rev.  Eben  Dodge,  at  New  London,  N.  H.,  and  in  com- 
pany with  him,  going  on  to  see  another  college  friend 
in  Eastport,  Maine,  stopping  at  Portland  on  the  way. 
Here  Mr.  Dodge  introduced  him  to  his  cousins  living 
in  that  city,  and  although  he  does  not  mention  it  just 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  33 

then,  he  was  deeply  impressed  with  one  of  the  young 
ladies,  and  shortly  afterward  speaks  of  his  engage- 
ment, August,  1848.  "A  month  never  to  be  forgotten. 
God  has  wonderfully  blessed  me.  He  has  given  me 
wealth,  friends,  health,  influence,  a  position  in  the 
church,  above  all  a  hope  of  heaven,  and  some  feeble 
desire  to  be  grateful  to  Him  as  the  giver  of  all  good. 
'•■  *  ■"  Thanks  be  to  His  name.  During  my  visit 
to  the  East  I  have  met  with  one  who  I  believe  to  be  a 
kindred  heart,  and  with  whom,  should  God  smile  upon 
our  union,  I  can  go  forth  joyfully  upon  the  voyage  of 
life.  *  *  *  I  tremble  sometimes  as  I  think  of  this 
new  responsibility  I  shall  assume,  *  *  *  but  my 
daily  prayers  ascend  to  Him  who  has  so  wonderfully 
guided  me  thus  far,  that  He  will  illumine  my  path  daily 
with  His  blessed  presence.  Why  should  God  so  bless 
me,  I  have  asked,  and  wonder  at  His  love  has  been  the 
only  answer." 

Miss  Virginia  Appleton  was  born  in  Bangor,  Maine, 
in  1824.  She  was  the  fourth  daughter  of  John  W.  Ap- 
pleton, afterward  of  Portland,  and  was  at  this  time  an 
active  member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  that  city.  Her 
mother  was  Sophia  Williams,  who  was  descended  from 
a  long  line  of  distinguished  ministers — Rev.  John  Cot- 
ton, the  noted  Puritan  divine;  Rev.  Elisha  Williams, 
president  of  Yale  College,  and  Rev.  Soloman  Stod- 


34  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

dard,  the  first  librarian  of  Harvard,  and  whose  daugh- 
ter, Esther,  was  the  mother  of  Rev.  Jonathan  Edwards, 
were  among  her  ancestors  in  the  direct  Hne. 

On  November  21,  1848,  they  were  united  in  marri- 
age by  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Eaton,  "amid  the  warmest 
and  most  affectionate  wishes  of  all  their  friends."  The 
union  thus  consummated  proved  as  happy  as  ever  falls 
to  the  lot  of  mortals,  and  endured  for  forty-eight  years, 
growing  brighter  and  happier  till  the  Lord  called  the 
loving  husband  and  father  to  Himself. 

Immediately  after  their  return  to  Baltimore,  the 
young  couple  spent  several  weeks  with  their  brother, 
Mr.  James  Wilson,  whose  residence  occupied  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Mt.  Vernon  Place  Methodist  Church. 

On  the  17th  of  January,  1849,  they  moved  into  their 
own  house,  No.  34  Pleasant  street,  near  Charles,  and 
began  that  delightful  home  life,  looked  back  upon  with 
so  much  joy  by  their  children,  and  by  all  who  have  had 
the  privilege  of  remaining  under  their  roof. 

In  September  he  speaks  of  the  recognition  of  the 
Rockdale  Church  as  follows:  "God  has  graciously 
made  the  chapel  His  dwelling-place,  and  has  crowned 
His  precious  gospel  with  a  rich  blessing,  at  least  thirty 
having  been  baptized  there  since  June  last."  In  No- 
vember he  attended  the  dedication  of  the  church  in 
Cumberland,  in  company  with  Dr.  Richard  Fuller.  He 


FllANKLIN    WILSON.    1S4S. 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  ^Yilson.  35 

continued  faithfully  the  work  at  High  Street,  often 
making  such  entries  as  this  in  his  journal:  ''I  do  de- 
sire more  faith  and  intense  devotion  to  my  Master's 
cause."  Although  throughout  his  life  Mr.  Wilson  was 
slender,  and  of  delicate  physique,  he  had  never  been 
really  ill,  and  was  seldom  kept  away  from  any  duties  by 
sickness. 

During  the  month  of  October,  1850,  he  says:  'Tor 
the  first  time  since  I  commenced  preaching,  I  have 
been  deprived  by  sickness  for  several  Sabbaths  of  the 
privilege  of  occupying  the  pulpit."  This  was  but  the 
commencement  of  the  trouble  with  his  throat,  which 
laid  him  aside  from  the  active  ministry.  Beginning 
with  a  slight  cold,  it  increased  until  he  was  finally 
forced  to  give  up  his  pastoral  charge.  At  this  time  he 
became  very  much  interested  in  a  young  man  whom 
he  sent  to  college,  and  who  afterward  became  an  active, 
useful  minister  of  the  gospel.  In  November  he  says: 
''A  misfortune  which  I  have  feared  since  the  very  com- 
mencement of  my  ministry  has  at  last  come  upon  me." 
"After  preaching  three  times  this  month,  my  cough 
continued  so  violent  that  I  applied  to  Dr.  Power,  and 
he  told  me  that  I  had  bronchitis  in  a  very  bad  form, 
and  advised  me  to  discontinue  preaching  entirely  at 
present.  *  *  h^  I  cannot  bear  the  thought  of  giving 
up  the  pleasure  of  such  labors.     But  I  leave  the  matter 


36  The  Life  »S7o/7/  of  FrankHu  Wilson. 

with  Him,  whose  are  all  my  ways.''  At  this  time,  feel- 
ing that  entire  rest  from  pastoral  work  was  necessary, 
and  yet  not  wishing  to  sever  all  connection  with  the 
work  of  the  church,  in  April,  1851^,  he  suggested  that 
Rev.  H.  J.  Chandler  be  called  as  an  assistant.  That 
this  was  a  wise  move  can  be  seen  from  the  following 
entry  in  his  journal:  "My  church  has  experienced  a 
refreshing  from  on  high  under  the  labors  of  Brother 
Chandler.  I  have  ventured  out  to  but  few  of  the  night 
meetings,  but  they  were  very  solemn  and  delightful. 
Thirty  have  professed  conversion.  '•'  '^  *  In  ex- 
amining the  candidates  I  hurt  my  throat  very  much, 
and  in  visits,  of  which  I  made  nine  or  ten,  I  found  such 
pain  resulting  that  I  determined  to  make  no  more." 

But  a  man  of  his  active,  nervous  temperament  could 
not  remain  in  idleness,  and  in  spite  of  the  weakness  of 
his  eyes  he  managed  to  do  a  vast  amount  of  reading  and 
writing.  In  March  he  says:  "Mr.  Beach,  the  editor 
of  the  'True  Union."  having  given  up  the  paper,  I  have 
written  a  good  deal  for  it,  and  have  acted  as  editor. 
This,  and  the  many  calls  which  are  made  on  me,  busi- 
ness and  other,  have  occupied  almost  all  my  time."  In 
May  he  went  to  New  York  to  consult  Dr.  Greene,  an 
eminent  specialist  in  throat  diseases.  He  says:  ''We 
started  on  the  226.  for  New  York;  I  had  thought  of 
leaving  on  the  21st,  but  a  kind  Providence  delayed  me, 


The  Life  Story  of  Frankiin  Wilson.  37 

for  the  boat  near  Philadelphia  on  that  day  was  run  into 
and  sunk,  drowning  a  number  of  the  passengers.  At 
New  York  on  the  23d  Dr.  Greene  performed  an  opera- 
tion on  my  throat,  cutting  off  part  of  the  uvula  and  ton- 
sils. It  was  very  sore  for  a  week,  and  I  do  not  see  that 
T  have  derived  any  permanent  benefit  from  the  opera- 
tion. 1  remained  in  Dr.  Greene's  care  for  a  month." 
Later  he  writes:  "I  began  to  cherish  bright  hopes  of 
complete  restoration,  but  was  disappointed.  I  had  im- 
proved a  great  deal,  but  took  cold  and  relapsed  again." 
In  August  he  again  writes:  "My  throat  was  injured 
this  month  by  over-exertion.  I  have  taken  advantage 
of  the  fine  weather  to  ride  a  good  deal.  I  have  edited 
the  'True  Union,'  have  prepared  regulations  and  his- 
tory of  the  High  Street  Church.  My  throat  is  still 
delicate,  and  I  have  attempted  to  speak  but  once  in 
public." 

In  October  we  find  this  interesting  record,  coming 
as  a  gleam  of  sunshine  across  the  gloom  of  these 
months  of  pain  and  renunciation:  "On  the  seventh  of 
this  month  the  Lord  gave  us  a  precious  immortal  gift 
of  a  fine  little  boy.  Oh  that  the  goodness  of  God  may 
lead  us  to  a  new  consecration  to  His  service,  and  that 
we  may  have  grace  and  wisdom  to  train  this  child  up 
in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord."  His 
throat  still  continuing  painful,  he  says:     "I  have  some- 


38  The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  V^ilson. 

times  thought  I  should  resign  my  pastorate  entirely 
and  devote  myself  to  writing,  but  I  cannot  bring  my 
mind  to  consent  to  it." 

In  February,  1852,  he  went  again  to  New  York,  and 
his  throat  was  much  benefited,  so  that  when  he  re- 
turned he  spoke  quite  frequently.  He  writes  of  this: 
''When  I  found  that  short  addresses  did  not  injure  me 
1  felt  happier  on  this  account,  as  I  had  reason  to  hope 
that  my  life  was  not  so  useless  as  before."  In  October, 
1852,  feeling  that  he  could  never  hope  for  complete 
restoration,  he  resigned  the  care  of  the  High  Street 
Church.  He  first  gave  the  church  $2000,  in  addition 
to  all  his  former  benefactions,  if  they  would  raise  the 
remainder  of  the  debt  themselves.  This  they  nobly 
did,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  leaving  them  free 
from  debt  and  in  a  greatly  improved  spiritual  condi- 
tion. After  this  he  writes:  "I  am  now  no  longer  a 
preacher  of  the  gospel  by  the  voice,  but  I  trust  I  shall 
not  be  idle  or  useless.  I  have  concluded  to  take  the 
entire  editorial  care  of  the  'True  Union,'  with  the  hope 
of  placing  it  on  a  firm  and  substantial  foundation.  It 
is  an  experiment,  and  an  occupation  for  which  I  have 
no  taste,  but  I  gladly  embrace  it,  as  I  am  denied  the 
pulpit." 

Regretting  as  he  did  the  loss  of  his  voice,  and  his 
enforced  withdrawal  from  the  active  ministry^,  he  did 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  39 

not  realize  then,  as  we  who  look  back  upon  his  life  now 
see,  that  the  Lord  was  only  leading  him  into  far  wider 
fields  of  usefulness  than  would  have  been  possible  to  a 
pastor.  He  ever  felt  that  he  was  in  God's  hands,  to  be 
used  for  His  highest  glory,  and  his  entire  life  was 
marked  by  his  utter  dependence  upon  God  and  his 
humble  acquiescence  in  His  leadings.  Still  his  great- 
est desire  Vv^as  to  preach,  and  on  all  occasions  he  would 
seek  opportunities  to  speak  for  his  Divine  Master. 
Although  in  early  youth  he  had  found  it  difficult  to 
speak  extemporaneously,  by  constant  practice  he  had 
so  trained  himself  that  few  could  excel  him  in  this  par- 
ticular. How  many  in  his  own  church  love  to  recall 
his  earnest,  loving  words  at  the  prayer-meeting,  or  at 
the  communion  season,  and  his  tender,  touching- 
prayers,  and  how  many  outside  of  his  own  city  and 
State  hold  him  in  loving  remembrance,  treasuring  as 
precious  pearls  the  words  that  fell  from  his  lips. 


40  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 


CHAPTER    III. 

EDITORSHIP.— OTHER      LITERARY      WORK.— DO- 
MESTIC   AFFLICTIONS. 

"All,  all  are  gone,  the  old  familiar  faces." 

— Lamb. 

"For  blessings  ever  wait  in  virtuous  deeds, 
And  though  a  late,  a  sure  reward  succeeds." 

— Congrieve. 

During  Mr.  Wilson's  second  visit  to  New  York  to 
be  treated  for  his  ever-recurring  throat  trouble,  we  find 
that  among  other  ways  of  employing  his  tirfie,  he  at- 
tempted an  essay  on  the  ''Duties  of  Churches  to  Their 
Pastors,"  for  which  a  prize  of  $ioo  was  offered  by  the 
Southern  Baptist  Publication  Society.  Shortly  after- 
^vard  he  was  gratified  by  learning  that  his  essay  had 
won  the  prize  over  many  competitors. 

He  now  entered  fully  into  the  life  of  an  editor,  with 
all  the  earnestness  of  his  nature.  That  it  was  always 
rather  distasteful  to  him  can  be  seen  by  the  following 
entry:  'T  have  not  much  taste  for  the  work  of  an 
editor,  so  many  papers  have  to  be  looked  over  that  I 
find  time  for  very  little  solid  reading,  and  the  habit  of 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  41 

merely  glancing  over  such  a  vast  variety  of  articles  is 
very  injurious  to  the  memory.  I  love  the  work  of  a 
preacher  far  more,  but  if  God  shuts  me  out  from  the 
pulpit,,  I  ought  to  rejoice  that  I  can  still  do  anything  for 
His  cause." 

During  this  spring  his  time  and  thoughts  were  much 
occupied  by  the  alarming  illness  and  death  of  his  be- 
loved brother,  William  Thomas,  in  the  thirty-second 
year  of  his  age.  "June,  1852.  This  is  a  terrible  shock 
to  me,  but  as  I  know  that  he  has  gone  to  a  peaceful 
home,  where  no  pain  or  sickness  can  ever  come,  I 
mourn  not  for  him.  He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the 
great  doctrines  of  the  Cross.  Much  of  his  time  was 
spent  in  prayer,  and  his  greatest  desire  was  to  glorify 
God.  He  did  a  great  deal  of  good,  and  said  nothing 
about  it.  He  loved  to  meditate  on  the  sublime  things 
of  religion,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  contemplation  of 
God  without  a  veil  to  dim  the  enraptured  vision." 

During  this  summer,  while  absent  from  home,  Mr. 
Wilson's  heart  was  again  saddened  by  the  death  of  a 
beloved  cousin. 

"December  13,  1852.  Dr.  Power  died  during  my 
absence— a  most  lovely  example  of  the  triumph  of 
faith  over  death.  This  death,  with  that  of  my  dear 
brother,  made  a  deep  impression  on  me.  I  never  felt 
before  so  strongly  the  nearness  of  the  tomb,  or  the  im- 


42  The  TAfe  Story  of  Franklin  Wilso7i. 

portance  of  living  earnestly  while  life  is  granted  me. 
May  I  never  forget  the  lessons  I  have  learned." 

"I  have  recently  been  much  engaged  in  forming  a 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  for  Baltimore.  I 
first  wrote  an  article  on  the  subject,  then  had  a  resolu- 
tion adopted  in  its  favor  by  the  Maryland  Baptist  Union 
Association,  then  called  a  public  meeting,  and  was 
there  appointed  chairman  of  a  conmiittee  to  prepare 
the  constitution,  and  it  is  now  adopted,  and  the  Asso- 
ciation has  met  with  gratifying  favor.  T  trust  that  this 
step  will  result  in  incalculable  good." 

In  April,  1853,  he  was  once  more  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  death  of  another  member  of  his  family.  His 
oldest  and  only  surviving  brother,  James  Wilson,  was 
suddenly  stricken  down,  and  after  days  of  unconscious- 
ness passed  to  another  world.  As  he  writes  in  his 
journal  April  15:  "I  have  just  passed  through  the 
deep  and  bitter  waters  of  affliction.  *  =i=  ^'  j  have 
seen  my  brother  die,  *  '='  '^  and  now  I  am  the 
only  one  of  my  mother's  sons  left  in  this  world.  On 
Wednesday,  April  13,  his  thirty-seventh  birthday,  he 
was  buried.  This  is  the  severest  affliction  I  have  expe- 
rienced- =i=  =!«  =i<  since  he  was  my  only  brother, 
now  I  have  none.  Oh  that  I  may  never  forget  the 
deeply  solemn  convictions  which  have  been  impressed 
upon  my  mind  by  the  melancholy  events  of  the  past 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  43 

eleven  months.     Life  is  short;  let  me  make  the  most  of 
it.     Let  me  live  to  the  glory  of  God  and  all  will  be 

well." 

"November  13,  1853.     Since  I  last  wrote  I  have  en- 
joyed many  delightful  hours  with  my  family.     I  spent 
the  summer  in  visiting  the  Virginia  Springs,  Natural 
Bridge,  Wyer's  Cave,  etc.,  and  while  the  waters  were, 
if  anything,  injurious  to  my  throat,  the  natural  scenery 
was   beautiful   and   sublime.     The   view   from   Warm 
Spring  Mountain,  Harper's  Ferry,  the  Bridge  and  the 
Cave  can  never  fade  from  my  memory,  as  among  the 
most  grand  and  lovely  exhibitions   of  the   Creator's 
power  I  have  ever  witnessed.     Since  my  return  my 
eyes  have  much  improved,  so  that  in  addtion  to  edi- 
torial work,  I  have  been  enabled  to  read  a  great  deal. 
Various   reviews,    Mapleton,   Malcolm's   Travels    and 
Judson's    Life.     The    last,    particularly,    deeply    im- 
pressed me,  and  I  feel  rebuked  for  my  comparative 
uselessness.     Within  a  short  time  past  I  have  felt  a 
more  earnest  desire  to  be  devoted  to  God.     I  have 
especially  felt  anxious  for  the  extension  of  the  Mas- 
ter's cause.      In  my  afternoon  walks  I  have  selected 
three  locations  for  new  Baptist  churches— one  near 
Franklin  Square,  one  in  the  vicinity  of  Madison  avenue, 
and  one  near  the  corner  of  Eden  and  Eager  streets.     I 
hope,  if  I  live  five  years  longer,  to  see  each  of  these 


44  The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

spots  occupied  with  a  church.  I  am  now  makings  ar- 
rangements to  secure  the  first  lot." 

"1854.  We  formed  about  the  first  of  January  a 
'Church  Extension  Society,'  for  the  purpose  of  concen- 
trating our  efforts  to  plant  new  churches  in  Baltimore. 
Brother  Kelly  and  I  have  leased  the  lot  near  Franklin 
Square,  and  I  have  on  my  own  responsibility  taken  two 
additional  lots,  one  on  Chase  street,  opposite  the 
square,  and  the  other  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Dol- 
])hin  and  Madison  streets.  *  '^  *  We  have  alto- 
gether $8000  subscribed  toward  the  Franklin  Square 
Church,  but  need  $15,000.  '^'  *  *  February,  1854. 
I  have  been  much  perplexed  in  selecting  suitable  loca- 
tions for  churches,  and  have  passed  many  sleepless 
nights  thinking  of  various  plans,  etc.  Still  I  hope  I 
have  not  been  useless,  and  I  have  rejoiced  at  the  indi- 
cations of  Providence  in  laying  me  aside  from  the 
pulpit  that  I  might  devise  and  execute  plans  for  extend- 
ing and  perpetuating  for  future  ages  His  church  on 
earth.  My  great  desire  is  to  be  and  do  that  which  will 
most  promote  His  glory,  and  if  it  is  His  will  not  to 
permit  me  to  preach,  may  I  have  grace  to  say,  'even  so 
Father,  for  so  it  seems  good  in  Th}'  sight.'  " 

Mr.  Wilson  was  very  far-sighted,  and  as  he  often 
said,  ''twenty  years  in  advance  of  his  times."  Many  of 
the  enterprises  begun  by  him,  which  proved  failures  at 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  45 

the  time,  have  since  been  carried  into  effect  with 
marked  success.  Such  was  the  failure  to  start  a  Bap- 
tist Book  Depository,  by  which  he  incurred  a  loss  of 
three  hundred  dollars. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1854,  the  chapel  at  Madison 
Square,  built  by  Mr.  Wilson,  was  dedicated  to  the  wor- 
ship of  God.  He  writes:  ''A  fine  congregation  was 
present,  and  my  heart  was  overwhelmed  with  emotions 
of  gratitude  to  God,  that  He  had  enabled  me  to  erect 
this  temple  to  His  glory.  My  prayer  is,  that  it  may  be 
the  means  of  saving  many  souls  from  the  darkness  of 
sin  and  error.  It  is  one  of  the  neatest,  most  airy  and 
beautiful  lecture-rooms  in  the  city." 

In  the  eyes  of  many,  the  short  life  of  this  chapel 
seemed  to  show  but  little  success,  but  Mr.  Wilson  al- 
ways considered  that  the  conversion  of  one  young  man, 
afterward  a  protege  and  largely  educated  by  him,  well 
rewarded  him  for  the  trouble  and  money  involved. 
This  young  man  is  now  a  very  successful  pastor.  A 
letter  from  him  fully  confirms  Mr.  Wilson's  estimate 
of  the  good  done  by  this  enterprise: 

"May  13,  1894. 

''My  Dear  Brother — Thirty-three  years  ago  I  was 
ordained.  The  names  of  Williams,  Cole,  Nice, 
Thomas  and  yourself  are  on  the  ordination  paper.  You 
preached  the  sermon  from  Psalms  XXVI,  5th  and  6th. 


4G  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

The  sermon  has  ever  been  an  ideal  to  me  of  work  in 
the  ministry. 

"It  seems  fitting,  in  view  of  the  relation  which  you 
sustained  to  me,  that  at  this  time  you  should  have  at 
least  a  synopsis  of  my  work  in  the  ministry,  leaving 
you  to  decide  as  to  whether  your  investment  in  me  has 
paid  at  least  a  small  margin.  My  main  purpose  is  sim- 
ply to  tell  you  what  in  part  has  been  accomplished  by 
the  churches  of  which  I  have  been  pastor. 

About  $60,000  have  been  raised  to  pay  debts  on 
churches,  and  for  repairs,  etc.,  one  among  them  saved 
from  the  sherifT's  clutches.  Three  missions  have  been 
established,  three  chapels  built,  three  churches  organ- 
ized out  of  these  missions;  three  churches  organized 
directly  out  of  my  churches,  exclusive  of  those  men- 
tioned in  the  number  above.  The  churches  during 
my  pastorate  have  received  by  baptism  nearly  eleven 
hundred.     I  have  never  had  an  evangelist. 

"With  one  single  exception  I  have  lived  in  most  de- 
lightful fellowship  with  all  of  my  brethren  in  the  min- 
istry. Nothing  comforts  my  soul  more  than  this,  save 
the  grace  of  God.  While  I  have  not  done  much  lit- 
erary work  yet,  I  hope  in  the  next  five  years  to  do 
something  in  that  line. 

"The  cares  of  different  pastorates,  in  addition  to 
those  of  a  large  family,  have  been  obstacles  in  my  way 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  47 

to  such  work.  Had  I  been  a  genius  these  would  have 
l)een  overcome. 

"I  have  attempted  to  keep  somewhat  abreast  of  our 
modern  thinking,  and  up  to  this  time  I  have  seen  no 
sufficient  reason  to  change  a  hair's  breadth  from  the 
essential  things  which  have  been  believed  by  us  as  a 
people.  On  the  contrary,  reasons  multiply  rapidly  to 
anchor  me  more  firmly  if  possible  to  the  old  faith  'once 
delivered,'  and  delivered  for  all  time,  and  subject  to  no 
material  modifications.  Revelation  is  not  progressive. 
There  may  come  more  illumination,  and  especially  do  I 
wish  to  bear  testimony  to  the  increasing  sweetness  of 
the  gospel  to  my  soul,  the  truths  of  which  have  sus- 
tained me  in  the  past,  as  I  believe  they  will  in  the  future, 
and  shall  be  my  great  joy  when  I  lay  down  my  work  to 
look  my  Master  in  the  face.  I  have  no  fear,  but  all 
hope,  so  far  as  the  future  is  concerned. 

"And  now,  after  these  years  of  toil — some  of  them 
have  been  very  hard  years,  years  full  of  trial,  anxiety, 
burdens  heavy,  as  I  look  back  upon  them  I  have  not 
the  slightest  regret,  but  the  greatest  joy,  that  God 
counted  me  faithful,  putting  me  into  the  ministry,  and 
to  you  more  than  anyone  else,  almost  wholly  to  you, 
am  I  deeply  grateful  for  making  it  possible  for  me  to 
do  the  little  I  have  done  to  exalt  the  name  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  in  whom  I  do  most  fully  believe. 


48  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

"I  may  add  that  I  have  at  the  present  time  one  of  the 
largest  and  noblest  churches  in  this  State.  I  have 
been  here  nearly  live  years,  and  up  to  this  time  not  the 
slightest  jar  has  occurred  to  disturb  my  relations  with 
this  church. 

"Yours  most  fraternally, ." 

"October,  1854.  On  Tuesday  last  I  joined,  with  my 
dear  wife,  in  constituting  a  new  church,  to  occupy  the 
building  now  being  erected  at  Franklin  Square,"  and 
in  March  the  lecture-room  was  publicly  opened  with  a 
sermon  by  Dr.  J.  W.  M.  Williams.  "I  enjoyed  the 
services  much,  and  pictured  to  myself  the  future  scenes 
of  holy  joy  which  I  hope  to  witness  in  that  room. 
There  1  trust  my  child  will  be  taught  'the  truth  as  it  is 
in  Jesus.'  There  I  hope  my  family  will  receive  rich  spir- 
itual blessings,  and  I  myself  hope  to  be  better  prepared 
for  'a  House  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.'  " 

About  this  time  another  son,  Franklin  Hamilton, 
was  born,  and  in  Jidy,  1855,  ^^"^^  family  took  possession 
of  the  new  home  built  by  Mr.  Wilson  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city.  This  was  the  beautiful  "Oakley,"  the 
cherished  home  for  over  thirty-seven  years,  hereafter 
indissolubly  connected  with  his  personality  by  all  wdio 
knew  him  intimately.  The  broad  halls,  the  bright 
rooms,  are  ever  dear  to  the  memory  of  his  children.  The 


FKANKI.IN    SQUARE    BAPTIST    CHURCH. 


The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  49 

charming  library,  never  complete  without  the  slender 
figure  in  the  revolving  chair,  will  always  be  thought  of 
as  one  of  the  most  sacred  spots  on  earth. 

The  first  pastor  of  the  Franklin  Square  Church,  Dr. 
George  B.  Taylor,  was  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Wilson,  and 
lived  at  their  home.  As  the  first  winter  was  very  se- 
vere, the  streets  not  being  cut  through,  or  well  paved  in 
that  part  of  the  city,  many  amusing  stories  are  told  of 
their  floundering  about  in  the  snow,  in  their  eagerness 
to  attend  every  service. 

Again  in  July,  1856,  Mr.  Wilson  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  death  of  his  youngest  sister,  Mary  (Mrs. 
J.  MicKim  Marriott).  The  early  decease  of  so  many  of 
his  loved  ones  led  him  to  realize  more  and  more  the 
necessity  of  working  "while  it  is  called  today;  knowing 
that  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man  can  work." 

"November,  1856.  Since  my  return  from  Portland 
I  have  been  principally  occupied  with  the  'True  Union' 
and  the  Association,  having  to  prepare  two  reports.  I 
have,  however,  read  the  memoirs  of  Lyman  and  Chan- 
ning,  and  Bledsoe  on  Slavery  and  many  small  books. 
Two  series  originally  written  by  me  for  the  paper  have 
since  been  published  as  tracts  by  the  Southern  Baptist 
Publication  Society,  one  on  The  Training  of  Children,' 
the  other  on  'Amusements.'  I  have  another  nearly 
ready  on   'Church   Discipline,   or   Keep   the    Church 


r>0  -  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Pure.'  My  throat  has  improved  since  my  removal  to 
this  part  of  the  city,  so  that  I  have  preached  ten  or 
twelve  times  this  year.  I  have  also  become  superin- 
tendent of  the  Franklin  Square  Sabbath-school." 
Again  on  December  5:  ''Since  my  last  record  I  have 
made  an  important  change  in  my  plans  for  the  future. 
1  have  concluded  to  drop  the  'True  Union,'  which  I 
have  edited  for  the  past  six  years,  and  have  purchased 
the  'Christian  Review,'  '^  "^  '^  which  I  intend  to 
conduct,  with  the  aid  of  Brother  George  Taylor.  'Tis 
an  experiment  I  know,  but  I  have  worked  six  years  for 
less  than  nothing,  and  T  can  afiford,  if  necessary,  to  do 
it  again." 

After  conducting  this  magazine  for  two  years  he  sold 
it  in  1859  to  Sheldon,  Blakeman  &  Co.,  of  New  York. 
The  Rev.  James  B.  Taylor,  Sr.,  writing  for  the  "Relig- 
ious Herald"  shortly  afterward,  speaks  of  these  edi- 
torial ventures  as  follows: 

"Among  the  notable  things  connected  with  the  Bap- 
tists of  Baltimore  was  the  establishment,  several  years 
ago,  of  a  valuable  weekly  paper,  entitled  'The  True 
Union.'  It  was  vmder  the  editorial  conduct  of  Rev. 
Franklin  Wilson,  D.  D.  It  is  not  saying  too  much  to 
speak  of  this  paper  as  one  of  the  most  judiciously  edited 
in  our  whole  coimtry.  For  want  of  sufificient  patron- 
age it  failed,  and  another  took  its  place,  being  smaller 


The  JAfe  Story  of  FrunkUn  Wilson.  51 

and  a  monthly,  entitled  'The  Maryland  Baptist.'  I  re- 
gret to  learn  that  this  also  is  suspended.  Of  the  editor 
I  may  be  permitted  to  speak  as  one  of  our  most  gifted 
preachers,  but  he  has  been  prevented  from  the  full  oc- 
cupancy of  his  talents  by  a  tendency  to  bronchial  affec- 
tions. I  remember  more  than  twenty  years  ago  wit- 
nessing his  baptism.  He  was  then  quite  a  youth,  and 
a  student  at  Brown  University.  Gladly  did  I  after- 
wards recognize  him  as  a  proclaimer  of  the  everlasting 
gospel.  His  talents  and  spirit  eminently  fit  him  for  the 
conductor  of  a  religious  journal." 

This  year  also  witnessed  the  sale  of  the  Rockdale 
Church  and  the  lot  on  Madison  avenue  and  Dolphin 
street.  Speaking  of  the  latter  he  says:  "I  sold  it,  as 
I  could  not  perceive  the  faintest  probability  of  a  church 
being  erected  there."  Yet  in  a  foot-note  added  in  pen- 
cil we  find:  1871.  "This  month  the  Eutaw  Place 
Church  was  dedicated.  It  is  located  only  one  square 
from  the  lot  I  purchased  in  1854,  in  the  vain  hope  that 
the  Baptists  would  then  occupy  the  ground." 

"January,  1859.  My  health  has  been  greatly  re- 
stored, so  that  during  the  last  two  years  I  have 
preached  fifty-five  times,  and  made  a  number  of  ad- 
dresses. I  am  now  preaching  for  Lee  Street  every 
Sabbath  morning.  The  Church  Extension  Society 
has  become  involved  in  a  crushing  debt  of  $11,000. 


52  The  Life  Story  of  F)nnk-Un  Wilson. 

Fearing  that  the  Society  would  be  overwhelmed,  I 
made  an  offer  in  a  public  meeting  last  June  to  pay  one- 
half  the  debt  if  the  denomination  would  pay  the  other 
half,  but  they  failed  to  meet  the  condition.  I  have  at 
times  been  seriously  discouraged.  May  the  Lord 
smile  upon  our  feeble  efforts  to  advance  His  cause. 
My  motto  shall  still  be,  'faint  yet  pursuing.'  " 


The  Life  t^tory  of  Franldin   Wilson.  5'^ 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    WAR    PERIOD. 

"Down  the  dark  future,  through  long  generations, 
The  echoing  sounds  grow  fainter  and  then  cease, 
And  hke  a  bell,  with  solemn,  sweet  vibrations. 
I  hear  once  more  the  voice  of  Christ  say.  Peace." 

— Longfellow. 

February,  t86o,  he  says:  ''I  have  for  the  first  time 
spent  a  year  without  any  regular  business.  Yet  my 
time  has  been  pretty  well  occupied  with  attending-  to 
mv  own  business,  the  affairs  of  the  association,  the 
Church  Extension  Society,  and  the  House  of  Refuge, 
of  which  I  am  a  manager.  The  Church  Extension 
Society  at  last  paid  its  debt  on  June  6,  I  having  to  pay 
$620  more,  or  $6120  in  all.  I  took  a  trip  to  Sahsbury 
to  ordain  Brother  Fhppo,  and  also  attended  the  Associ- 
ation at  Newtown." 

March,  i860.  On  Wednesday  morning,  March  14. 
a  dear  little  daughter  was  sent  to  cheer  our  hearts. 
*  '^  ''^  How  thankful  we  ought  to  be  to  our  Heav- 
enly Father.  He  has  granted  the  earnest  desire  of  our 
hearts,  and  has  added  to  our  family  a  dear  daughter. 


54  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Oil  that  she  may  l)e  8])ared  to  bless  her  brothers,  *  '^ 
and  to  comfort  our  hearts.  May  we  l)e  enabled,  in 
view  of  this  goodness,  to  dedicate  ourselves  anew  to 
His  service,  and  to  be  more  useful  in  His  cause. 

A  striking  entry  is  that  of  December  8:  ''My 
birthday!  I  am  thirty-eight  years  old.  My  hair 
is  rapidly  turning  gray,  and  I  am  reminded 
by  frequent  weakness  that  I  am  no  longer 
young.  I  have  decided  to  take  the  editorship 
of  'The  True  Union'  again  on  January  i.  Brother 
Berg  could  not  live  upon  its  meagre  income,  and  I  con- 
sented to  take  it  as  the  only  hope  of  saving  it.  It  will 
involve  considerable  labor  and  trouble,  but  on  the 
whole  I  think  I  shall  be  happier  w^ith  regular  work  to 
do.  The  state  of  the  times,  however,  is  such  as  to 
make  it  a  risky  enterprise.  I  fear  disunion  is  inevita- 
ble. South  Carolina  is  on  the  point  of  secession,  and 
the  demands  of  the  South  are  such,  and  the  temper  of 
the  North,  that,  in  my  judgment,  these  demands  will 
not  be  met,  and  we  must  separate.  Secession  will,  I 
think,  only  increase  the  evils  the  South  complains  of. 
I  have  done  what  I  can  to  promote  union,  in  having 
fraternal  appeals  sent  forth  by  our  association,  to  all 
Baptists  to  seek  for  peace  and  union.  May  God  di- 
rect. He  is  now  our  only  hope.  Man  utterly  fails  in 
this  terrible  crisis." 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  55 

September  lo,  1861,  he  says:  "I  never  expected,  in 
this  nineteenth  century  of  the  Christian  era.  to  witness 
the  scenes  and  to  hear  the  sad  news  which  I  have  seen 
and  heard  since  I  last  wrote.  *  '•'  '•'  Ever\'  effort 
in  Congress,  and  in  a  peace  convention  called  by  Vir- 
ginia, to  adopt  some  compromise,  failed,  and  two  at- 
tempts to  negotiate  a  peaceable  separation  with  the 
United  States  government  were  sternly  repulsed.  '='  ''' 
The  Sixth  Massachusetts  Regiment,  passing  through 
Baltimore  April  ig,  was  attacked  by  a  vast  mob,  whom 
they  fired  on.  Several  soldiers  and  citizens  were 
killed,  and  intense  excitement  created.  The  citizens 
resolved  that  no  more  soldiers  should  go  through  Bal- 
timore, and  our  streets  for  a  few  days  swarmed  with 
men  in  uniform  and  with  guns  and  cannon.  For  a 
time  I  thought  Baltimore  was  doomed,  and  the  threats 
of  the  infuriated  North  were  fearful.  After  a  time, 
however,  a  calm  succeeded,  and  thousands  of  soldiers 
have  not  only  passed  through,  but  have  encamped 
here.  Some  of  the  camps  are  in  full  view  of  my  house, 
and  the  sounds  of  the  drum  and  brass  band  are  daily, 
almost  hourly,  heard.  The  affairs  of  the  country  have 
gradually  progressed  from  bad  to  worse."  ^  *  '•' 
He  then  mentions  the  battles  of  Bull  Run  and  others, 
and  says:  "The  contending  parties  have  exhibited  a 
most  unchristian  and  fiendish  spirit.     Every  tie  that 


5(i  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

bound  us  together  is  broken,  and  hate  and  mutual 
slaughter  have  taken  the  place  of  friendship  and  kind 
intercourse.  '^  '•''  '^  I  have  always  admired  and 
loved  our  Union.  I  have  believed  it  to  be  the  best 
government  on  earth.  '''  *  ^-'  I  have  dreaded  and 
deprecated  as  a  fatal  calamity  all  tendencies  to  dis- 
union, and  have  always  regarded  the  Abolitionists  of 
the  North  as  fanatics,  who  in  their  zeal  for  the  over- 
throw of  a  comparatively  light  evil,  would  inflict  the 
heaviest  injuries  upon  the  whole  country,  as  well  as 
upon  the  poor  blacks  they  affected  to  befriend.  I  have 
looked  upon  slavery  as  an  evil,  *  '''  ■"  as  best  re- 
moved by  the  progress  of  the  gospel,  both  among  mas- 
ters and  slaves.  '^  '^  '^  I  have  no  doubt  that  the 
Southerners  as  a  whole  are  the  truest  friends  of  the 
blacks,  and  that  the  race  in  our  South  are  far  more  ele- 
vated in  every  respect  than  anywhere  else  on  earth." 

"In  the  True  Union'  I  have  written  a  number  of 
articles,  pleading  for  a  constitutional  convention,  a 
peaceful  separation,  the  recognition  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  compensated  emancipation — anything 
rather  than  a  war.  '•'  "^  *  For  this  I  have  been  de- 
nounced as  a  rabid  Secessionist,  and  one  paper  of  the 
North  has  pointed  out  the  True  Union'  as  worthy  of 
suppression  by  the  government.  *  =f=  ^i=  My  course 
as  editor  has  been  generally  approved  in  this  section. 


Tlie  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  57 

though  some  liave  deserted  and  denounced  me.  '^'  * 
I  have  not,  I  think,  given  undue  prominence  to  the 
([uestion;  T  have  not  changed  my  paper  from  a  relig- 
ious to  a  poHtical  sheet,  but  have  endeavored  as  a 
Christian  to  plead  for  peaceful  separation  or  settle- 
ment, because  as  a  lover  of  my  country,  and  of  the  souls 
of  men,  T  can  see  nothing  but  sorrow  and  ruin  in  such 
a  war.  In  any  case,  I  think  the  destiny  of  Baltimore 
is  sealed.  As  a  border  city  *  "^  *  her  business 
will  dwindle,  '•'  ^  *  and  she  will  inevitabh^  sink 
to  a  low  rank.  My  property  is  pretty  much  all  here, 
and  I  shall  probably  lose  heavily,  l)ut  if  it  will  give 
peace  to  the  country  I  shall  rejoice  at  the  sacrifice. 
The  future  is,  to  human  view,  very  dark,  but  God 
reigns;  that  is  my  consolation.  ''^'  '•'  I  know  He  will 
overrule  it  all  for  His  glory  and  the  ultimate  advance- 
ment of  His  kingdom." 

September  i8  he  says:  "At  the  Association  in 
Washington  November  15,  i860,  I  requested  it,  to  have 
prepared  an  address  to  the  Baptists  of  the  United  States 
in  behalf  of  calmness,  moderation  and  union.  *  *  * 
I  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  to  prepare 
it,  but  as  Dr.  Fuller  was  much  more  widely  known,  and 
more  capable  of  writing  a  suitable  address  than  myself, 
I  requested  him  to  prepare  it. 

December  19  he  was  shocked  to  hear  of  the  sudden 


58  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  WiUon. 

death  of  Mrs.  Teackle,  his  only  hving  sister.  She 
dropped  dead  on  reaching  her  home,  after  having  made 
some  purchases  for  the  ap])roaching  Christmas.  On 
December  21  he  attended  her  funeral,  and  says:  "I 
was  very  much  overcome  at  the  grave.  There  were 
buried  my  father,  mother,  sister  Mary  and  httle 
brother,  while  in  the  adjoining  vault  are  my  brother 
William  Thomas  and  his  wife  and  child.  On  the  way 
we  passed  the  grave  of  brother  James.  I  am  the  last 
survivor  of  the  family.  '^  *  All  have  died  in  the 
very  prime  of  life." 

''December  30.  I  have  ])ublished  the  last  number  of 
the  'True  Union,'  and  it  is  now  suspended  indefinitely, 
after  an  existence  of  twelve  years.  I  came  to  this  de- 
termination with  great  reluctance.  The  war  caused 
many  subscribers  to  discontinue.  "^  '^  '^  One-third  re- 
siding in  Virginia,  were  prevented  from  taking  the 
paper,  and  the  advertising  patronage  was  almost 
wholly  cut  of?.  "^  *  *  Last  year  the  deficiency 
was  not  much  more  than  $200,  which  was  met  by  my- 
self and  others.  I  did  not  feel  it  my  duty  to  do  all  the 
work,  and  pay  all  the  money  besides.  Another  reason 
which  influenced  me  is,  that  I  do  not  consider  the  press 
free  now.  Several  papers  in  this  city  have  been  sup- 
pressed, and  the  editors  imprisoned.     '^     ''^     ""^     I  can- 


The  Life  ^iory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  59 

not  edit  a  paper  in  peace  or  comfort  with  a  sword  or  a 
prison  over  my  head,  and  I  prefer  to  be  quiet." 

He  continues  his  journal,  noting  all  the  important 
battles  as  they  occurred,  as  well  as  any  event  of  interest. 
x\s  these  are  matters  of  history,  we  pass  them  by. 

"March  27,  1862.  Again  has  our  house  become  a 
house  of  mourning.  My  wife's  father,  John  W.  Ap- 
pleton,  ^''  *  "^  passed  away  today.  =k  ^  -i=  He 
was  in  the  habit  of  thinking  much  of  death,  and  the 
summons  found  him  'ready  to  depart  and  be  with 
Christ.'  *  '''  -^^  We  feel  his  loss  greatly.  He  has 
been  one  of  our  household  altogether  nearly  five  years, 
and  we  esteemed  it  a  precious  privilege  to  have  so  ven- 
erable and  lovely  a  servant  of  God  with  us.  '='  *  * 
He  was  one  of  the  most  tender-hearted  and  affection- 
ate, one  of  the  most  unselfish  and  compassionate  men 
I  ever  knew.  *  '^  *  He  was  eminently  devotional, 
spending  much  time  in  prayer  and  reading  the  Bible; 
sometimes  he  would  read  no  other  book  for  a  whole 
day." 

The  entry  for  April  14  reads:  'T  have  b'een  looking 
over  my  account  books  today,  and  find  that  in  the  last 
fifteen  years  I  have  given  away  $58,000,  principally  for 
building  churches  in  Baltimore  and  Maryland,  for  do- 
mestic and  foreign  missions,  for  the  High  Street  and 
Franklin  Square  Churches,  and  for  educating  young 


GO  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

men  for  the  ministry.  *  ^  *  j  ^ltu.  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  it  has  proved  bad  policy  to  expend  so  much 
money  as  I  have  done  in  bricks  and  mortar,  in  building 
meeting-houses.  This  ought  to  be  done  to  a  larger 
extent  by  those  who  are  to  occupy  the  house,  as  it  will 
lead  them  to  value  it  more  highly.  The  best  results 
have  come  from  the  employment  of  men  to  labor.  The 
young  men  whom  I  have  aided  have  turned  out  well. 
*  *  '^  If  the  Lord  spares  my  life  and  gives  me 
means  to  do  so,  I  hope  to  aid  others  in  the  same  way  in 
future.  It  is  the  most  powerful  means  of  doing  good." 
"I  have  for  about  eighteen  months  felt  a  deep  inter- 
est in  Italy.  '^'  '•'  *  In  October,  i860,  I  wrote  an 
article  on  tlie  sul^ject,  which  was  copied  in  the  London 
'Freeman.'  I  have  since  published  all  I  could  find 
bearing  on  the  subject,  and  have  written  to  our  mission 
and  publication  boards.  If  the  Lord  will  open  the 
wa}',  I  think  of  trying  to  organize  an  Italian  Baptist 
Missionary  Society  here,  or  to  support  a  missionary  or 
two  there  myself.  A  great  and  effectual  door  is  now 
open  there,'  '''  *  *  which  it  would  be  criminal  to 
neglect."  A  note  appended  to  this  entry  and  dated 
1864,  says:  "Brother  Berg  became  interested  in  Italy 
from  my  directing  his  attention  to  it,  and  wrote  to  the 
'Freeman,'  which  caught  the  eye  of  two  English  Bap- 
tist preachers,  Clark  and  Wall.     They  issued  an  appeal 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  61 

to  the  British  pubhc  and  a  mission  has  been  com- 
menced. Mr.  Wall  has  gone  as  a  missionary  to  Italy. 
Thank  God  for  putting-  it  into  my  heart!" 

In  July,  1862,  he  writes:  "Brother  Adams  was  im- 
prisoned for  a  month  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Brother 
Stevenson,  a  deacon  of  our  church,  was  arrested  last 
week  on  the  charge  of  going  South  as  a  mail  agent. 
Brother  S.  Sindall,  a  member  of  our  church,  joined  the 
Confederate  army  about  fourteen  months  ago,  and  was 
killed  by  a  wound  in  the  face  at  Harrisonburg  on  June 
10.  Our  church  has  suffered  much.  Many  young 
men  from  Maryland  have  gone  South,  among  them  W. 
J.  B.,  W.  G.  and  N.  S.  D.,  from  our  Sunday-school. 
No  human  mind  can  predict  what  will  be  the  end  of  all 
this,  but  God  reigns;  that  is  my  only  hope." 

On  September  22,  writing  of  the  Confederate  invar 
sion  of  Maryland,  he  says:  "There  was  much  excite- 
ment here.  Many  sent  away  their  valuables,  and  a 
number  went  themselves.  ^'  *  "*'  I  was  much  per- 
plexed for  a  few  days  as  to  the  proper  course,  but  finally 
concluded  to  remain.  The  Union  authorities  have  de- 
termined to  destroy  the  city  before  it  shall  be  taken  by 
the  Confederates.  I  did  not  care  to  be  in  the  neigh- 
borhood in  such  an  event." 

After  Antietam.  "It  seems  strange  that  such  awful 
slaughter  has  occurred  within  seventy  miles   of  our 


02  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

peaceful  home.  We  have  even  heard  the  distant  thun- 
der of  the  artillery.  God  grant  that  this  dreadful  war 
may  soon  cease,  and  the  gospel  of  peace  and  love  may 
prevail  all  over  the  land."  On  December  i6:  "The 
President  has  recommended  'compensated  emancipa- 
tion' as  an  amendment  to  the  constitution.  I  think  it 
is  too  late  by  nearly  two  years." 

I  preached  on  Thanksgiving  Day  at  Dr.  Fuller's 
church.  Subject,  "Songs  in  the  Night;"  also  twice  at 
night  at  Lee  Street  during  the  same  week,  more  than  I 
have  done  for  twelve  years,  thanks  be  to  God!  Our 
church  still  continues  in  a  sad  state.  "^^  '•'  *  We 
shall  be  unable  to  support  a  pastor  next  year,  and  I 
know  not  what  we  shall  do." 

"May  20,  1863.  ^^^^  the  12th  of  April  I  commenced 
preaching  regularly  once  a  fortnight  at  the  'Rosine' 
Asylum,  and  have  become  deeply  interested  in  devising 
some  plan  for  redeeming  more  of  these  lost  souls  from 
ruin,  or  preventing  the  fall  of  so  many  into  the  awful 
gulf  of  woe.  I  have  called  upon  Marshall  Van  Nos- 
trand,  who  entered  warmly  into  the  matter." 

"Cousin  Locke  (Mrs.  Thomas  M.  Locke,  nee  Stans- 
bury)  was  removed  to  my  house  on  the  15th  of  April, 
very  sick.  "^  *  On  May  31  she  died,  and  June  2  she  was 
buried  from  the  First  Church,  of  which  she  has  been  a 
member  for  forty-seven  years.     "     '•'     "^     Many  gath- 


The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson. 


63 


ered  to  take  a  last  farewell  of  one  who  had  been  so 
faithful   and   devoted   a   friend   and   servant   of   Jesus 
Christ.     Dr.  Fuller  prayed  at  the  o-rave.     Of  all  the 
family  that  once  gathered  around  my  father's  fireside, 
I  alone  am  left  on  earth.     The  last  link  is  now  broken, 
and  all  but  myself,  I  trust,  are  in  heaven.     The  dear 
departed  one  has  supplied  a  mother's  place  to  me  and 
my  brothers  and  sisters,  and  has  exhibited  in  her  sacri- 
fices of  her  own  pleasures  and  prospects  for  others,  a 
most  rare  example  of  unselfish  devotion.     When  quite 
voung  she  postponed  her  marriage  to  take  care  of  her 
uncle,  my  grandfather.     She  promised  my  mother  on 
her  death  bed  to  watch  over  her  motherless  children; 
nobly  did  she  fulfil  her  promise.     Never  did  a  mother 
more  faithfully  and  tenderly  care  for  her  own  little 
ones.     From  her  lips  we  first  learned   the   name   of 
Jesus,  and  when  at  last  we  grew  to  maturity,  she  was 
married,  having  postponed  the  wedding  nearly  twenty 
years.     *     ''     *      She    was    largely    instrumental    in 
founding  and  carrying  on  the  Union  Protestant  In- 
firmary.    One  of  the  rooms  in  the  building  was  entirely 
furnished  by  herself." 

"June  27.  For  more  than  a  week  there  has  been 
o-reat  excitement  here,  on  account  of  the  advance  of 
Lee's  army  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  Last 
Saturday   our   streets   were   barricaded   with   tobacco 


(M  TliG  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilsoii. 

hogsheads,  and  earthworks  were  commenced  around 
the  city.  That  evening  they  began  digging  a  huge 
rifle  pit,  550  yards  long,  on  my  place.  A  large  number 
of  colored  men  were  impressed  and  forced  to  work  all 
day  Sunday,  the  21st.  They  made  much  noise,  and  my 
place  became  a  thoroughfare."  In  the  evening  the 
place  was  illuminated  by  huge  bon-fires,  made  from 
the  rails  of  the  fences,  and  by  their  weird  light  the 
dusky  forms  of  the  thousands  of  blacks  could  be  seen 
working  on  and  singing  plantation  and  camp-meeting 
songs,  the  splendid  volume  of  melody  rising  and  fall- 
ing as  they  worked,  the  whole  making  a  picture  rarely 
seen,  and  never  to  be  forgotten. 

"On  Wednesday  four  companies  of  the  Second 
Maryland  Regiment  occupied  the  earth  works.  In  the 
event  of  an  attack,  the  works  near  me  would  invite  the 
balls  and  shells  of  the  enemy,  and  my  house  would 
probably  be  destroyed.  \\'e  have  kept  remarkably  calm 
all  this  time,  and  trust  that  God  will  deliver  us  from 
evil." 

'T)n  Monday  night,  2Qth,  the  alarms  bells  of  the  city 
rang  at  midnight,  and  the  cry,  to  arms,  resounded 
through  the  streets.  We  heard  the  bells,  but  kept 
quiet." 

"December  19.  I  have  been  preaching  for  our 
church  on  Sunday  mornings  and  at  the  'Rosine'  every 


The  Life  Story  of  FranJcUn  Wilson.  65 

alternate  Sunday  afternoon,  preaching  more  frequently 
in  the  past  three  months  than  at  any  similar  period 
during  the  last  thirteen  years.  My  throat  has  been  un- 
usually well  and  strong." 

"March,  1864.  I  still  preach  regularly  at  the  'Ro- 
sine,'  and  enjoy  it  greatly.  Petitions  which  I  pre- 
pared, backed  by  an  appeal  which  I  wrote,  and  of  which 
TOGO  copies  were  printed,  were  presented  to  the  city 
council,  which  has  granted  $1000,  and  to  the  legisla- 
ture, which  has  granted  $5000  to  the  institution." 

"July.  Our  rifle  pit  has  been  guarded  for  two  weeks 
past  by  a  company  of  Eastern  Shore  soldiers." 

"The  Lee  Street  Church  has  just  completed  a  very 
neat  and  even  elegant  house,  at  a  cost  of  a  little  more 
than  $13,000.  It  was  dedicated  June  29.  I  preached 
in  the  evening  on  'God  is  a  Spirit.'  I  have  given  the 
Madison  Square  lot  and  chapel  to  this  enterprise." 

"July  12.  The  past  few  days  have  been  days  of  un- 
precedented excitement  on  account  of  another  Con- 
federate invasion.  On  Saturday  evening  as  we  tried 
to  enter  the  park  we  were  stopped  by  a  guard,  and 
found  all  the  roads  similarly  guarded.  On  returning 
we  found  the  battery  on  the  adjoining  place  filled  with 
artillery,  and  two  cannon  planted  on  the  hill  in  front  o! 
my  house.  A  company  of  'Turners'  have  taken  pos- 
session of  our  rifle   pit.     They  have   not  been  very 


06  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

agreeable  company.  Last  night  I  set  fire  to  a  hornet's 
nest,  making  a  Httle  Hght,  when  I  perceived  a  great 
commotion  among  the  Germans,  and  I  was  soon  sur- 
rounded and  carried  to  the  captain.  I  explained  my 
act,  but  he  said  he  should  have  to  put  a  guard  around 
the  house.     This  morning  it  was  removed." 

''November  i,  1864.  I  resigned  the  superintend- 
ency  of  the  Franklin  Square  Sunday-school  last  Sun- 
day. I  love  to  preach  better,  and  could  not  do  both. 
I  have  preached  once  a  fortnight  at  Sater's  all  sum- 
mer, and  we  have  a  good  congregation  there." 

"December  28.  I  have  been  somewhat  interested 
in  preparing  the  first  number  of  the  'Maryland  Bap- 
tist/ a  monthly  paper  to  be  issued  by  the  executive 
board.  It  is  published  as  a  specimen.  If  enough 
subscribe  to  sustain  it,  I  will  edit  it  throughout  the 
year." 

"April  10.  General  Lee  surrendered  yesterday  to 
General  Grant,  with  his  whole  army.  The  end  of  the 
war  must  be  at  hand." 

"May  3.  I  feel  unspeakably  thankful  that  the  war 
is  over,  and  that  we  in  Maryland  have,  by  the  good 
Providence  of  God,  been  like  a  bush  in  the  midst  of  the 
fire,  unconsumed.  I  shudder  to  think  how  near  we 
came  to  destruction  several  times.  To  God  be  all  the 
praise  for  our  safety." 


The  Life  Slory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  67 


CHAPTER    V. 

FEMALE    HOUSE   OF   REFUGE.— OTHER    CHARIT- 
ABLE   WORK. 

"A  man  he  seems,  of  cheerful  yesterdays 
And  confident  tomorrows." 

— Wordsworth. 

"March  26,  1866.  Brother  T.  G.  Jones  left  us  for 
Norfolk  the  last  week  in  December.  I  have  been 
preaching  ever  since,  with  occasional  help.  The  con- 
gregations have  improved,  and  the  church  seems  re- 
vived. The  Sunday-school  has  elected  Brother  Hamer 
superintendent,  and  has  collected  $100  for  the  new 
library,  and  now  God  has  blessed  us  in  the  conversion 
of  five  scholars.  I  have  been  wonderfully  strength- 
ened for  work,  having  already  preached  twenty-six 
times  since  January  i.  It  has  made  me  much  happier, 
and  has,  I  trust,  led  me  much  nearer  to  God.  January, 
1867.  During  the  past  year  I  preached  fifty-eight 
times,  more  than  in  any  year  since  I  was  attacked  with 
bronchitis,  and  have  baptized  ten  persons.  Thanks  be 
to  God! 

"April  2.     Rev.  Wm.  E.  Hatcher  was  publicly  rec- 


68  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

ognized  as  pastor  of  the  Franklin  Square  Church.  Dr. 
Fuller  preached  a  grand  sermon  from  'Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God.'  Bro.  H.  is  a  powerful  preacher  and  a 
live  man.  The  congregations  have  already  increased, 
and  the  prospects  of  the  church  are  better  than  they 
have  been  for  several  years.  I  am  now  relieved  from 
its  pastoral  care,  but  1  still  have  plenty  to  do." 

Looking  back  a  few  pages  in  the  journal,  we  find: 
''January  lo,  1865.  This  evening  was  held  at  the 
'Home  of  the  Children's  Aid  Society'  a  very  important 
meeting.  About  a  year  ago  Joseph  Patterson,  Esq.,  of 
this  city,  offered  the  'Rosine  Association'  a  lot  near 
Patterson  Park  and  $5000  for  the  erection  of  a  build- 
ing. The  lady  managers  declined  his  ofifer.  I  thought 
it  a  pity  that  so  much  money  should  be  lost  to  the  cause 
of  benevolence,  and  being  convinced  by  my  experience 
at  the  House  of  Refuge  and  the  'Rosine'  of  the  need  of 
an  institution  for  the  restraint  and  reformation  of  female 
minors,  I  applied  to  Mr.  Patterson,  who  made  his  offer 
to  me  if  I  could  organize  such  an  institution.'' 

"I  first  endeavored  to  interest  the  managers  of  the 
^House  of  Refuge,'  but  after  discussing  the  subject 
fully,  they  too  declined  to  undertake  it.  I  then  applied 
to  the  managers  of  the  'Children's  Aid  Society,'  who 
took  it  up  with  great  zeal,  elected  me  on  their  board, 
and  appointed  a  committee  to  report  on  the  subject. 


The  Life  Story  of  FranJcUn  Wilson.  69 

Their  report  was  presented  last  night,  recommending 
an  effort  to^  raise  $25,000,  including"  Mr.  Patterson's 
offer,  to  buy  a  farm  of  about  100  acres  and  to  look  to 
the  City  and  wState  to  support  the  institution  on  the 
family  system.  I  trust  the  Lord  has  put  it  into  my 
heart.  So  far  as  I  know  there  is  no  such  institution  in 
the  w^orld." 

Not  until  March,  1866,  we  find  the  following:  "  The 
iMaryland  Industrial  Scliool  for  Girls'  is  at  last  char- 
tered by  the  legislature,  but  it  is  a  bad  time  to  collect 
money,  as  prices  are  falling.  April  2,  1867.  At  the 
regular  meeting  of  the  'Industrial  School'  board  yes- 
terday it  was  found  that  the  subscriptions  received 
amounted  to  $15,660,  thus  securing  Mr.  Patterson's 
donation  of  $5000  U.  S.  stock  and  a  lot  worth  $8000. 
The  'Rosine'  has  agreed  to  transfer  its  property  to  us, 
worth  about  $17,000,  so  that  our  whole  property  will 
be  not  less  than  $36,000.  This  insures  the  commence- 
ment of  the  enterprise." 

'T  feel  very  thankful  to  God  for  the  success  with 
which  He  has  crowned  it  thus  far.  I  have  prayed  earn- 
estly for  His  blessing  and  He  has  granted  it.  That 
large  sum  of  money  has  been  raised  very  easily.  Com- 
paratively few  have  refused  to  give,  and  many  have 
given  liberally  and  cheerfully.  My  experience  proves 
that  there  are  manv  noble  and  sfenerous  hearts  in  Balti- 


70  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

more.  I  have  been  more  than  gratified  by  the  prompt 
and  kind  manner  in  which  they  have  responded  to  our 
appeal." 

"September  20.  We  have  this  day  received  the  deed 
of  a  farm  for  our  'Industrial  School.'  After  having- 
looked  at  about  fifty  farms  during  ten  months,  in  which 
I  spent  over  thirty  days  in  actual  visiting  and  examin- 
ing places  and  about  $50  in  railroad  fare,  we  have  taken 
'Mt.  Zephyr,'  on  the  Baltimore  «&  Ohio  Railroad, 
eleven  miles  from  Baltimore.  A  beautiful  spot  and  en- 
tirely suitable  for  the  purpose  designed. 

"December  8.  I  have  spent  much  time  in  drawing 
plans  and  preparing  contracts  for  the  erection  of  an  ad- 
dition at  'Mt.  Zephyr;'  we  shall  not  be  able  to  open  the 
school  until  spring." 

"June  8,  1868.  I  have  just  returned  from  the  dedi- 
cation of  the  'Maryland  Industrial  School.'  I  have  had 
to  attend  to  nearly  all  the  arrangements  for  the  occa- 
sion, at  not  a  little  expense  and  trouble.  I  have  been 
repaid  for  all,  by  the  enjoyments  of  this  day.  It  was  a 
most  lovely  afternoon,  and  the  place  looked  very 
charming.  After  partaking  of  an  excellent  lunch,  the 
public  services  were  held  in  a  grove  near  the  house. 
♦  *  -  I  found  that  all  were  delighted  with  the  place 
and  house  and  all  the  arrangements.    I  thank  God  that 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  71 

He  has  permitted  me,  after  years  of  labor,  thought  and 
anxiety,  to  see  this  day." 

This  country  home  soon  held  within  its  sheltering 
walls  many  unfortunate  girls  taken  from  their  evil  city 
lives,  who  were  here  given  at  least  a  chance  to  return 
to  the  paths  of  rectitude  and  tO'  become  useful  Chris- 
tian women. 

Dr.  Wilson's  youngest  son,  Frank,  met  with  a  ter- 
rible accident  about  this  time,  and  lay  for  weeks  almost 
at  the  point  of  death.  This  was  a  most  trying  experi- 
ence and  most  harrowing  to  a  parent's  soul. 

Writing  in  his  journal,  he  says:  "Some  of  the  sweet- 
est seasons  of  prayer  and  meditation  I  ever  had  in  my 
life  were  about  the  dawn  of  day,  sitting  by  the  bedside 
of  my  dear  boy.  May  God  raise  him  up  to  be  His 
child."  His  recovery  was  very  slow,  but  God  was  good. 
In  time  he  again  became  strong  and  well,  and  lived  to 
be  a  great  comfort  to  his  father's  heart. 

Soon  after  this  Dr.  Wilson  became  very  much  inter- 
ested in  developing-  that  part  of  the  city  in  which  he 
lived,  and  founded  the  "West  Baltimore  Improvement 
Association,"  to  encourage  the  planting  of  trees  and 
other  measures  to  protect  and  beautify  the  property  in 
that  vicinity." 

"May,  1868.  I  have  long  felt  that  we,  as  Baptists, 
were  not  doing  enough  for  the  colored  population  of 


72  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

this  city."  In  an  article  published  at  this  time  he  urged 
the  people  to  take  more  interest  in  their  colored  breth- 
ren. He  says:  ''There  is  no  place  in  the  United  States 
where  the  colored  people  are  more  in  need  of  Baptist 
teaching;  in  no  place  are  they  more  accessible,  more 
intelligent,  industrious,  moral  or  more  highly  edu- 
cated, fhus  better  prepared  to  exert  a  powerful  influ- 
ence in  hastening  the  elevation  of  their  less  favored 
brethren.''  As  they  had  only  two  dilapidated  chapels 
and  a  building  erected  by  Mr.  William  Crane  in  1854 
for  their  use,  and  then  in  danger  of  being  lost  to  the 
denomination,  Dr.  Wilson,  uniting  with  Messrs.  Hiram 
Woods  and  Henry  Taylor,  purchased  a  house  on 
North  street  for  the  Union  Colored  Church. 

Previous  to  this  time  Dr.  Wilson  had  given  largely 
■  to  build  a  house  for  the  first  colored  church,  and  had 
preached  the  sermon  at  its  dedication.  In  January, 
1869,  he  .says:  "I  assisted  in  dedicating  the  meeting 
house  on  North  street.  '''  '^  '^  I  enjoyed  the  service 
very  much,  and  rejoice  to  think  I  had  been  instrumen- 
tal in  securing  it  for  the  colored  people.  How  thankful 
I  am  to  God  for  enabling  me  to  see  the  completion  of 
so  many  enterprises  in  which  I  was  interested — the  two 
colored  meeting  houses,  the  Georgetown  church  and 
the  'Industrial  School.'    May  God  help  me  to  be  more 


The  Life  Story  of  Fra/nklin  Wilson.  73 

devoted  to  His  service  and  to  be  very  useful  durin.s:  the 
coming  year!" 

Hereafter  he  often  speaks  of  this  work  so  dear  to  his 
lieart,  and  throughout  his  Hfe  nothing  so  delighted  him 
as  to  talk  of  the  wonderful  growth  of  our  colored 
churches.  He  was  always  ready  to  assist  them  in  every 
way,  either  by  his  contributions  or  by  his  wise  and  lov- 
ing counsel.  He  often  said  that  he  never  preached  bet- 
ter sermons,  or  spoke  with  more  freedom  than  to  them; 
and  times  without  number  he  visited  their  churches, 
baptizing  candidates,  holding  meetings  and  doing  any- 
thing in  his  power  that  might  help  them  in  their  soirit- 
ual  life  and  Christian  activity. 

We  are  again  called  upon  to  record  a  chain  of  events 
which,  under  the  providence  of  God,  brought  about 
p-reat  results.  In  1862,  as  before  mentioned.  Dr.  Wilson 
had  become  deeply  interested  in  Italy  and  the  wonder- 
ful occurrences  taking  place  there.  He  continued  to 
agitate  the  subject,  and  in  1870  he  was  invited  to  speak 
before  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  dur- 
ing their  anniversary  in  Philadelphia.  We  quote  the 
following  from  one  of  the  papers:  "Rev.  F.  Wilson 
urged  in  a  speech  of  great  eloquence  and  power  the 
importance  of  this  society  entering  more  largely  upon 
providing  Baptist  literature  for  European  countries, 
especially  the  Italian,  Spanish  and  French."    This  ad- 


74  The  Lite  Story  of  Franklin  WiUon. 

dress  was  listened  to  by  Dr.  James  B.  Taylor,  secretary 
of  the  Southern  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  it 
made  such  a  deep  impression  upon  his  mind  that  he 
soon  wrote  to  Dr.  Wilson,  "The  board  is  now  ready  to 
begin  mission  work  in  Italy  if  they  can  find  a  man  to 
send/' 

In  June,  Dr.  Wilson  writes:  "Dr.  W.  Cote  called  to 
see  me  and  spent  a  day.  I  sent  him  to  Dr.  Taylor.  He 
is  the  son  of  a  former  missionary  at  Grand  Ligne.  I 
hope  now  the  Lord  is  about  to  fulfil  my  long-cherished 
desire  of  a  mission  to  these  papal  countries."  The  hope 
speedily  became  a  reality,  and  in  1871  Dr.  Wilson  had 
the  joy  of  knowing  that  in  Rome,  that  great  centre  of 
Catholicism,  a  Baptist  church  had  been  formed,  under 
the  leadership  of  Dr.  Cote,  the  first  missionary. 

"July,  1870.  With  my  wife,  I  returned  yesterday 
from  one  of  the  most  delightful  trips  I  ever  had.  We 
started  Thursday,  June  22,  for  Newport,  arriving  in 
one  of  the  most  splendid  boats  at  2.30  A.  M.  I  cannot 
describe  the  exquisite  beauty  of  the  villas  and  grounds, 
the  views  of  land,  ocean  and  sky,  except  to  say  that  they 
are  the  most  lovely  I  ever  beheld.  On  Saturdav  we 
took  the  afternoon  steamer  to  Providence,  and  spent 
Sunday  and  Monday  in  a  most  delightful  manner.  On 
Tuesday  morning  I  went  to  a  Phi  Beta  Kappa  meeting. 
At  II,  heard  a  grand  address  before  the  alumni  by  Prof. 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  75 

Angell.  At  4,  attended  a  meeting  of  the  alumni,  and 
at  9  heard  a  good  sermon  by  Rev.  A.  J.  Gordon,  on 
missions.  Afterward  had  a  meeting  of  the  class  of  1840. 

''There  were  present,  beside  myself,  A.  Payne,  He- 
man  Lincoln,  Coggeshall,  Wood,  Cook,  Morse,  Gas- 
ton, Holmes  and  Dexter.  We  sat  around  the  table 
loaded  with  good  things  until  2  in  the  morning,  telling 
our  respective  histories  and  reminiscences  of  the  past. 
'Twas  a  delightful  meeting-,  only  marred  by  the  pres- 
ence of  claret,  champagne,  etc. 

"April,  1 87 1.  To  prevent  me  from  setting  my  heart 
on  earthly  things,  'where  thieves  break  through  and 
steal,'  on  Saturday  morning  at  1.45  a  desperate  attempt 
was  made  by  burglars  tO'  enter  my  house.  They  out  a 
large  hole  in  the  front  door,  then  opened  the  library 
bay-window  and  tried  to  open  a  dining-room  window. 
They  then  cut  two  holes  four  inches  in  diameter  in  the 
side  door,  setting  off  the  alarm  bells.  I  went  down, 
fired  a  revolver  twice  out  of  the  broken  door,  and  soon 
had  the  police  here.  No  other  damage  was  done.  I 
felt  thankful  for  our  escape." 

Always  a  worshipper  of  the  beauties  of  nature,  and 
enjoying  the  companionship  of  God's  people,  he  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  purchasing  Parramore's  Island,  off 
the  Virginia  coast,  and  making  it  an  ideal  summer  re- 
sort for  the  Baptist  denomination.     This,  however,  he 


70  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

decided  to  abandon,  althoug-h  with'  the  greatest  rehic- 
tance,  as  he  had  httle  time  to  devote  to  stich  a  project. 

He  had  become  a  director  in  several  land  companies, 
always  eager  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  city.  He 
says,  however,  "I  sometimes  fear  T  may  become  secu- 
larized by  so  much  business,  but  I  watch  and  strive 
against  it.  I  have  preached  several  times  lately  on 
Italy  and  on  Maryland,  with  a  map  of  the  State."  His 
heart  was  at  tliis  time  rejoiced  by  the  conversion  of  one 
of  his  children  and  a  beloved  nephew.  He  says:  "I  can- 
not 1)e  too  thankful  for  this  greatest  of  all  blessings. 
A  true  faith  in  Christ  is  indeed  'the  one  thing  needful' 
the  surest  guarantee  of  a  happy,  useful  life,  of  a  peace- 
ful death  and  a  glorious  immortality. 

"December  8,  1872.  I  am  fifty  years  old  today!  It 
seems  almost  impossible.  Oh  how  long  my  life  has 
been  spared,  and  yet  how  little  comparatively  have  I 
done  for  Jesus!  I\Iay  my  remaining  years  be  more 
completely  filled  with  usefulness  than  those  which  have 
passed  away! 

"For  several  months  I  have  been  interested  in  two 
important  enterprises,  the  building  of  a  meeting-house 
for  the  colored  people  in  Leadenhall  street,  and  of  the 
new  Huntingdon  chapel.  I  laid  the  corner-stone  of 
the  first  in  July,  and  made  an  address  at  the  other  in 
Ausfust   last.    ■"    '^    *    I    have   been   chairman   of   the 


The  Life  Story  of  FranJclin  Wilson.  77 

building  committee  of  the  latter,  and  have  had  a  good 
deal  of  trouble,  especially  in  getting  enough  money.  I 
have  preached  there  a  good  deal,  and  on  November  24 
at  Longwood,  at  the  constitution  of  a  church  there.  I 
have  received  many  blessings  this  year;  have  preached 
fifty-two  times,  held  one  protracted  meeting  in  Cum- 
berland, laid  three  corner-stones.  I  have  given  away 
more  than  usual  this  year — to  the  Baptist  church  in 
Rome,  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  churches  at  Waverly 
and  Leadenhall  .street,  beside  many  other  objects.'' 

May,  1873,  he  records  the  death  and  burial  of  the 
Rev.  John  Berg.  He  says  of  him:  "He  was  my  succes- 
sor in  three  positions — as  pastor  at  High  Street  and 
Waverly  and  as  editor  of  the  'True  Union.'  He  was 
ready  to  depart,  having  remarked  the  day  before  he 
passed  away,  'Sudden  death,  sudden  glory.'  Thus  are 
my  cotemporaries  passing  away.  May  God  help  me  to 
be  ready  when  the  summons  shall  come  for  me." 


78  Tlie  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

PARTIAL     LOSS     OF     SIGHT.— AUTHORSHIP.— IN- 
CREASING   AND    VARIED    ACTIVITIES. 

"And  in  every  work  that  he  began  in  the  service  of  the 
house  of  God  '''  *  *  he  did  it  with  all  his  heart.  *  *  *" — II 
Chron.  xxxi,  21. 

"September  7, 1873.  Since  my  last  record,!  havebeen 
in  poor  health  for  a  longer  time  than  ever  before.  I  lost 
flesh  and  strength,  until  I  weighed  only  107  pounds. 
On  Thursday,  July  27,  I  suddenly  lost  the  sight  of  my 
left  eye.  Dr.  Chisolm  said  it  was  the  rupture  of  a 
blood-vessel  behind  the  eyeball.  At  first  I  could  not 
see  my  hand  before  me,  but  it  has  gradually  improved, 
until  now  it  seems  like  a  mist  shrouding  all  objects.  On 
July  29  we  went  to  the  Jordan  Alum  Springs  in  Vir- 
ginia. It  was  a  delightful  place,  and  the  air  sparkling, 
cool  and  bracing,  but  I  was  sick  in  bed  several  days. 
Since  my  return  I  have  recovered,  though  still  weak. 
This  has  deeply  impressed  on  me  the  lesson  of  my 
frailty,  and  made  me  think  much  about  death.  I  have 
preached  only  eighteen  times  since  January  i,  twice 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  79 

on  the  endowment  of  Columbian  University.  I  also 
was  the  principal  agent  in  getting  up  a  meeting  of  Bal- 
timore Baptists  in  behalf  of  the  same  object.  I  preached 
on  January  15  at  the  dedication  of  a  colored  church  in 
Bladensburg." 

Dr.  Wilson  was  a  most  ardent  advocate  of  the  cause 
of  temperance.  Many  articles  on  this  subject  were 
written  for  the  religious  and  secular  press,  one  of  the 
most  .striking,  "What  Can  Christian  Young  Men  Do 
for  Temperance,  by  Example,  by  Influence  in  Their 
Business  Relations." 

"September  7.  A  few  remarks  I  made  at  a  Sunday- 
school  meeting  on  temperance  led  to  the  formation  of 
a  temperance  society  in  the  Lee  Street  Sunday-school. 
I  have  offered  an  amendment  to  our  church  regula- 
tions, forbidding  membership  to  liquor-sellers.  It  will 
provoke  discussion,  but  I  am  convinced  that  we  ought 
to  adopt  it  for  self-protection,  as  our  testimony  against 
the  giant  evil  of  the  age." 

"I  have  also  been  prominent  in  forming  a  'Social 
Union'  of  the  Baltimore  Baptists.  The  constitution 
was  prepared  by  me  from  others  I  procured,  but  it  has 
not  yet  gone  into  operation."  Not  until  1884  do  we 
find  this  record:  'The  'Social  Union/  which  I  attempted 
to  start  in  1873,  has  at  last  become  a  success.  We  have 
had  three  pleasant  and  useful  meetings,  and  I  rejoice." 


80  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

For  some  time  Dr.  Wilson  had  been  busily  engaged 
in  writing  a  book,  giving  some  of  his  experiences  in 
business  life,  hoping  that  he  might  in  this  way  be  the 
means  of  saving  others  from  many  of  the  unpleasant 
occurrences  which  he  had  encountered.  "March  13, 
1874.  I  have  this  day  finished  rewriting  my  book  on 
'Wealth,  or  Individual  Economy,-  207  pages.  It  has 
l^een  a  hard  task  on  account  of  my  weak  eyes."  "April 
13.  I  have  offered  it  to  the  American  P)aptist  Publica- 
tion Society,  and  they  have  this  day  approved  of  it,  and 
I  am  glad.  I  pray  God  it  may  do  much  good."  "June 
17.  I  have  just  returned  from  a  very  pleasant  trip  with 
my  two  sons,  visiting  Pittsburg,  Toledo,  Cleveland 
and  many  other  Western  cities.  Chicago  is  the  most 
wonderful  place  I  ever  saw.  They  are  preparing  for  a 
grand  future.  It  is  a  wicked  city,  however.  Sunday 
seemed  a  gala  day;  cars  and  omnibusses  all  crowded, 
lager  beer  saloons  in  full  blast,  many  stores  open,  etc. 
I  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Y.  M,  C.  A.  at  night,  and 
never  heard  a  clearer  or  more  earnest  presentation  of 
the  pure  gospel.  The  trip  was  of  great  service  to  my 
health,  and  I  feel  much  refreshed  and  invigorated  by  it." 

"August  5.  I  returned  on  Thursday  from  a  delight- 
ful journey  of  five  weeks'  duration,  two  weeks  of  which 
we  spent  in  Portland  very  pleasantly.  The  views  of  the 
ocean  and  islands  are  among  the  most  beautiful  in  the 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  81 

world.  On  the  way  home  we  stopped  a  few  days  in 
Groton,  Conn.,  where  I  enjoyed  myself  very  much. 
One  excursion  to  Fisher's  Island  was  peculiarly  pleas- 
ant. After  a  delightful  sail,  in  which  the  bounding 
motion  of  the  boat  was  only  exhilarating  to  me,  we 
landed,  and  walked  about  half  a  mile  to  the  ocean 
shore,  where  the  most  magnificent  surf  came  thunder- 
ing in  long  rollers  upon  the  beach,  glittering  in  the 
sunlight  and  sending  the  white  foam  and  spray  high 
into  the  air.  We  could  not  resist  the  temptation,  and 
soon  were  bathing  in  the  dashing  breakers.  We  after- 
ward took  a  nice  lunch  and  a  siesta  under  a  shady  tree. 
During  my  trip  I  preached  in  Vineland  and  Groton, 
and  spoke  in  several  prayer-meetings  in  Portland.*^  The 
journey  was  of  much  service  to  us  all,  and  especially  to 
me.  My  health  has  been  far  better  than  it  was  last 
summer,  or,  in  fact,  for  several  summers." 

In  1875,  Dr.  Wilson  urged  that  a  great  effort  be 
made  to  pay  ofif  the  debt  of  $14,000  on  the  mission 
churches  and  work  in  Maryland.  It  was  resolved  to 
attempt  to  raise  the  amount  by  individual  subscrip- 
tions. He  enforced  his  words  by  his  works.  He  says: 
"I  have  subscribed  $500  toward  a  centennial  move- 
ment to  pay  off  our  debt,  and  have  spent  a  great  deal 
of  time  and  labor  for  that  object.  I  have  had  a  beautiful 
certificate  prepared,  with  pictures  of  the  churches  upon 


82  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

it."  While  engaged  in  all  this  general  work  for  the 
advancement  of  the  denomination,  he  turned  with  de- 
light to  the  more  direct  work  of  preaching  the  gospel, 
and  we  find  him  constantly  helping-  in  meetings  in  his 
own  church  and  in  others  throughout  the  State,  count- 
ing it  his  highest  joy  when  permitted  to  win  souls  for 
his  Master. 

Especially  marked  in  liis  journal  we  find  the  follow- 
ing: "Last  Tuesday,  February  22,  I  went  to  the  'Indus- 
trial School,'  and  read  to  the  girls  passages  of  scripture 
illustrating  'the  way  of  salvation.'  I  was  very  quiet 
and  calm,  but  the  Holy  Spirit  blessed  the  Word.  At 
the  close  every  girl  asked  for  prayers,  and  thirteen 
came  forward  and  gave  me  their  hands  in  token  of  hav- 
ing believed  on  Jesus  and  being-  resolved  to  sen^e  Him." 

From  March,  1876,  after  the  resignation  of  Rev.  G. 
W.  Sanderlin  as  pastor  of  the  Franklin  Square  Church, 
Dr.  Wilson  again  stood  in  the  breach,  and  preached 
constantly  until  the  coming  of  Dr.  Bitting  in  the  latter 
part  of  September.  The  entry  at  this  time  is  most  inter- 
esting: "Last  Thursday  evening  our  church  had  a 
'sociable'  to  welcome  Dr.  Bitting.  ^  ^^  -^  After  singing, 
etc.,  he  presented  me,  in  behalf  of  the  church,  with 
Smith's  Dictionary  of  the  Bible,  in  four  elegantly  bound 
volumes.  "^  "^^  '•'  I  was  much  gratified  at  this  expres- 
sion of  appreciation  of  my  work  for  the  church." 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  83 

December  25,  1876,  he  says:  "Dr.  Fuller  died  Octo- 
ber 20.  We  have  lost  a  burning  and  a  shinin^ight." 
Again,  in  April:  "Last  Monday  Rev.  Geo.  F.  Adams 
died.  I  have  known  and  loved  him  since  I  was  a  lad  of 
fourteen.  He  was  a  good  and  useful  man,  and  the 
Baptists  of  Maryland  owe  him  a  debt  of  gratitude  for 
his  valuable  labors.  The  Baptists  have  lost  two  of  the 
brightest  lights  and  most  beloved  ministers  of  Christ 
in  the  recent  death  of  these  two  brethren." 

In  August,  1877,  it  having  been  decided  to  move  the 
First  Church  into  a  new  situation,  services  were  held 
for  the  last  time  in  the  old  "Round  Top,"  as  it  was 
affectionately  called.  This  was  in  many  respects  a  sad 
day  to  Dr.  Wilson.  His  family  had  been  connected 
with  that  church  from  its  formation,  his  grandfather, 
William  Wilson,  being  one  of  its  founders,  giving  lib- 
erally of  his  means  and  active  in  all  departments  of  its 
work,  while  his  uncle,  James  Wilson,  following  in  the 
footsteps  of  his  father,  was  ahvays  prominent  in  every 
"good  word  and  work"  connected  with  the  church. 

Dr.  Wilson,  writing  of  this,  says:  "I  attended  the 
closing  services  of  the  old  house,  dear  to  me  from  the 
associations  of  my  childhood  and  3'outh,  and  made  two 
addresses  on  that  day.  There  my  parents  and  relatives 
attended,  there  I  received  the  hand  of  fellowship  and 
was  ordained,  there  I  witnessed  many  thrilling  scenes 


84  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

during  the  great  revival  and  many  painful  ones  during 
the  gf^'at  disruption  in  1843.  I  ^^as,  under  God,  the 
chief  instrument  in  rescuing  it  and  saving  it  for  the 
church  to  whom  it  belonged.  When  I  returned  from 
Newton  I  found  the  church  driven  out  and  quietly 
accepting  the  situation.  I  aroused  them  to  demand 
their  rights.  I  conducted  all  the  correspondence,  pre- 
pared the  case  by  more  than  a  month's  close  study,  for 
the  lawyers,  and  had  the  joy  of  seeing  it  brought  to  a 
triumphant  issue.  But  the  old  tabernacle  has  gone 
from  earth  forever,  as  we  all  who  worshipped  in  it  must 
soon  go." 

At  this  time,  owing  to  the  continual  shrinkage  in  the 
value  of  real  estate.  Dr.  Wilson's  income  was  greatly 
lessened,  and  he  was  obliged  to  reduce  all  his  expenses, 
curtailing  as  well,  much  against  his  will,  his  contribu- 
tions to  religious  work.  He  says:  ''My  greatest  distress 
arises  from  the  fact  that  I  can  no  longer  give  to  ben- 
evolent objects  as  I  used  to  do.  I  daily  pray  for  wisdom 
to  guide  me  in  these  troublous  times.  I  have  preached 
a  good  deal  since  my  last  record,  frequently  for  the 
'Macedonian'  Colored  Church,  where  I  have  baptized 
twenty-four  converts.  I  have  endeavored  to  enlist  our 
Baptist  Sunday-schools  in  city  mission  work  at  Fuller 
^Memorial  Chapel,  having  read  an  essay  on  the  subject. 
I  have  read  two  essavs  before  the  Ministers'  Confer- 


The  Life  Story  of  FraiilcUn  Wilson.  85 

ence,  one  on  Preparation  of  Sermons/  the  other  on  the 
'Golden  Rule.'" 

"I  especially  enjoyed  preaching  on  'Fellow-Helpers 
to  the  Truth'  at  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Charles  Lawson 
to  the  pastorship  of  the  Macedonian  Church." 

October  27,  Dr.  Wilson  commenced  regular  services 
in  Fuller  Memorial  Chapel,  writing  of  it  as  follows: 
"They  have  been  anxious  for  regular  preaching,  but 
being  unable  to  secure  a  man,  and  my  health  being 
greatly  improved,  I  consented  to  try  it."  In  March, 
finding  that  his  throat  could  not  stand  the  strain  put 
upon  it,  this  regular  work  was  suspended.  He  felt  that 
he  could  accomplish  more  by  preaching  occasionally 
to  larger  congregations,  than  by  talking  to  the  small 
audiences  in  the  new  chapel. 

In  June,  1880,  the  Franklin  Square  Church  was  re- 
opened, after  extensive  repairs  and  alterations,  at  a 
cost  of  $5000.  The  historical  sketch  delivered  at  this 
time  by  Dr.  Wilson  was  afterwards  printed,  and  re- 
mains a  valuable  contribution  to  local  Baptist  history, 
going  into  the  organization  and  past  work  of  this 
church  with  great  clearness  and  thoroughness. 

For  some  time  he  had  been  very  much  interested  in 
fireproof  construction,  and  had  endeavored  in  various 
ways  to  interest  the  prominent  citizens.  After  a  thor- 
ough investigation  of  the  subject,  he  organized  the 


86  The  Life  mory  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

"Fire  Proof  Building  Company,"  for  manufacturing- 
blocks  for  floors  and  partitions.  He  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  them  placed  in  the  buildings  of  the  Hop- 
kins Hospital,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Peabody 
Institute,  Pratt  Library  and  many  other  prominent 
buildings. 

"December  21.  About  ten  days  ago  I  visited  Way- 
land  Seminary,  at  Washington,  and  lectured  to  about 
sixty  colored  students  for  the  ministry  on  the  'Prepara- 
tion of  SermotiS.'  I  was  listened  to  with  great  atten- 
tion.   I  have  preached  thirty  times  this  year." 

In  August,  1 881,  his  heart  was  made  glad  by  the 
birth  of  a  granddaughter,  in  the  old  home  at  ''Oakley." 
He  writes:  "I  pray  that  she  may  be  brought  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord  and  be  a  great 
comfort  and  blessing  to  Iier  family  and  to  the  world." 
In  the  same  month  he  was  busily  engaged  in  selecting 
a  place  in  the  city  for  the  "Industrial  School,"  or,  as  it 
was  now  called,  "The  Female  House  of  Refuge."  It 
had  been  found  advisable  to  move  from  the  country 
home,  and  the  legislature  had  appropriated  $10,000 
for  a  new  building.  After  examining  many  places,  the 
lot  corner  of  Carey  and  Baker  streets  was  finally  de- 
cided upon  and  the  building  erected.  By  this  change 
of  location  the  usefulness  of  the  institution  was  much 


The  Life  Utory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  87 

increased.  The  school  often,  since  then,  has  had  over 
seventy  inmates. 

In  March  he  was  much  affected  by  the  sudden  death 
of  Dr.  W.  T.  Brantly,  a  loved  classmate  and  life-long 
friend.  He  writes:  "His  death  greatly  startled  our 
community,  especially  his  Baptist  brethren,  who 
greatly  loved  him  for  his  perfect,  gentlemanly  and 
genial  manners,  and  admired  him  for  his  talents,  piety, 
and  scholarship.  I  gave  a  brief  biographical  sketch  at 
his  funeral,  and  preached  in  his  pulpit  on  the  following 
Sunday;  theme,  'Jesus  Christ,  the  Same  Yesterday,  To- 
day and  Forever.'  It  was  a  solemn  occasion;  there 
was  much  weeping  in  the  congregation." 

Ever  on  the  watch  to  enlarge  the  denominational 
borders,  he  visited  Cambridge  in  July,  with  a  view  of 
establishing  a  Baptist  church  there.  He  longed  to  see 
the  day,  wdien  our  State  should  be  dotted  with  self-sus- 
taining Baptist  churches,  and  never  lost  courage,  or 
became  disheartened,  by  the  slow  growth  and  repeated 
failure  of  mission  stations. 

''December,  1882.  On  the  8th  of  this  month  I  was 
sixty  years  old.  I  never  expected  to  live  so  long.  My 
mother  died  at  half  that  age,  and  all  my  brothers  and 
sisters  before  forty-three.  I  was  always  considered  one 
of  the  most  delicate  of  the  family,  but  God  has  spared 
me  to  be  an  old  man.    I  have  had  many  reflections  as  I 


88  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

thus  feel  life  slipping  away  beneath  me.  My  only  hope 
is  on  the  Eternal  Rock  which  God  has  laid  in  Zion, 
'Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  today  and  forever.' 
I  have  been  able  to  preach  quite  frequently.  I  greatly 
enjoyed  the  day  at  Sater's,  at  the  annual  'Ji-^i^^  meet- 
ing,' where  I  preached  twice  to  large  congregations." 

''May  28,  1883.  I  have  just  returned  from  one  of  the 
most  important  and  interesting  meetings  I  ever  at- 
tended, the  Bible  Convention  at  Saratoga.  I  have  been 
much  interested  in  the  question,  wrote  an  essay  advo- 
cating a  separate  Bible  Society,  which  was  published 
in  the  'Baptist  Nation'  and  highly  commended.  The 
Convention  had  four  hundred  and  fifty-one  delegates, 
from  twenty-five  States.  I  was  asked  to  open 
one  session  with  reading  and  prayer.  I  spoke 
twice  and  offered  some  resolutions,  two  of  which  were 
adopted.     '''     *     * 

"The  Convention  adopted  the  grand  and  only  true 
principle,  called  it  divine,  namely,  that  of  exact  and  faith- 
ful translation,  first  stated  in  1833,  and  applied  it  to  all 
languages  throughout  the  world,  and  yet  left  room  for 
Christian  liberty  in  circulating  any  version  that  might 
be  demanded,  and  money  furnished  for  the  purpose. 
The  vote  was  four  hundred  ayes  to  thirty-six  noes, 
and  the  voters  in  the  negative  asked  to  change  to  the 
affirmative  and  make  it  unanimous.    I  have  never  wit- 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  89 

nessed  such  a  scene  as  followed — prolonged  and  con- 
tinuous cheering,  the  wildest  tumult  of  joy,  with  many 
grateful  tears.  We  sang  'Blest  Be  the  Tie  That  Binds' 
amid  a  general  and  warm  hand-shaking.  A  glorious 
union  is  begun,  which  I  hope  is  the  commencement  of 
a  more  blessed  union  for  all  the  land,  North  and  South." 

In  1884,  Dr.  A.  J.  Rowland  was  called  to  the  pastor- 
ship of  the  Franklin  Square  Church,  and  entered  on  his 
labors  March  2.  July  i6th  Dr.  Wilson  writes:  "He  is 
an  instructive  preacher,  has  good,  solid  thought,  meth- 
odically arranged  and  expressed  in  choice  language. 
He  is  earnest  and  impressive  in  his  delivery  and  very 
winning.  He  is  a  devoted  and  laborious  pastor,  and  a 
man  of  lovely  spirit  and  great  tact.  He  has  paid 
especial  attention  to  interesting  the  young  people,  and 
has  baptized  twenty-five,  mostly  young  persons.  I 
have  great  hope  from  his  ministry  among  us." 

One  by  one  the  loved  ones  and  early  acquaintances  of 
Dr.  Wilson  were  being  called  from  the  scene  of  their 
earthl}-  labors,  and  we  notice  this  record:  "On  Sept.  13, 
Rev.  Stephen  P.  Hill  died  in  Washington.  He  bap- 
tized me  in  1838,  ordained  me  in  1846,  and  was  much 
loved  by  many  members  of  our  family.  He  was  a  man 
of  blameless  life,  poetical  genius  and  cultivated  and 
refined  intellect."  It  is  surely  true  that  after  one  reaches 
the  sixtieth  year  much  of  sadness  steals  into  the  daily 


IK)  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

life  from  the  inevitable  changes,  as  well  as  from  the 
realization  that  now  the  majority  of  life  lies  behind,  fin- 
ished and  unchangeable.  Dr.  Wilson,  while  never  for- 
getting the  past  and  ready  at  any  moment  to  recall  his 
own  experienc-es  for  the  good  of  others,  always  looked 
into  the  future  with  hopeful  interest.  He  was  as  ready 
to  embark  in  new  enterprises  as  many  younger  men, 
and  even  during  the  last  days  of  his  life,  was  constantly 
planning  new  movements  and  new  schemes,  for  the 
advancement  of  the  Kingdom. 

On  February,  1885,  is  this  record:  "1  was  privileged 
to  preach  a  historical  sermon  at  the  centennial  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church,  January  11.  The  examination 
of  the  records  and  history  brought  up  many  sacred  and 
solemn  associations,  and  I  trust  did  me  good.  I  also 
spoke  at  the  funerals  of  Mr.  Lawrence  P.  Bayne,  A. 
Fuller  Crane  and  Mrs.  Hiram  Woods,  Sr.,  all  persons 
with  whom  I  have  been  long  acquainted  and  associated 
in  church  work  or  reformatory  labors.  The  workman 
dies,  but  the  work  goes  on.'  ■' 

In  the  spring  of  1885  Dr.  Wilson,  with  his  wife  and 
daughter,  enjoyed  a  most  delightful  trip  to  Florida. 
He  says :  "We  were  charmed  with  the  walk  on  the  river 
bank,  at  Green  Cove  Springs ;  it  is  embowered  in  lofty 
pines,  magnolias,  live  oaks  and  other  noble  trees,  all 
festooned  and  draped  with  long  feathery  moss  and  car- 


Tile  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  91 

peted  with  a  great  variety  of  shrubs  and  traihng  plants, 
with  frequent  palmettoes,  prickly  pear,  aloes,  Spanish 
bayonets  and  other  tropical  plants.  The  sun  shining 
through  the  trees,  lighted  all  up  with  'golden  glory,' 
and  on  the  other  side,  was  a  broad  blue  and  silver  river,' 
sparkling  and  dancing  in  the  evening  light  and  adorned 
at  intervals  with  white  sails,  or  passing  steamers.  I 
have  rarely  seen  anything  more  lovely. 

''On  the  14th  I  took  a  plunge  and  swim  in  the  Green 
Cove  bath.  It  springs  up  at  the  rate  of  3000  gallons  per 
minute,  and  forms  a  beautiful  sight,  clear,  bright,  and 
coloring  the  cavern  out  of  which  it  rushes  a  lovely 
green,  like  malachite.     =i<     -i^     >!^ 

'The  schoolhouse  here  and  the  colored  Baptist 
church,  each  has  for  a  bell  an  old  circular  saw  fastened 
to  a  post.  I  went  into  the  courthouse,  a  primitive 
afTair,  with  the  floor  covered  with  sawdust,  and  also 
saw  the  jail,  a  wooden  building  enclosing  a  steel  cage. 
On  Monday  we  went  to  De  Land,  a  new  city,  cut  out 
of  the  pine  forest  in  the  last  seven  years.  The  soil  looks 
like  pure  white  sand,  but  it  will  bear  noble  pines  and 
orange  trees.  The  sidewalks  are  made  of  plank  or  saw- 
dust, and  the  deep,  sandy  roads  are  greatly  improved 
by  coarse  sawdust  thickly  strewed  on  them.  "^  *  "^^ 

"We  had  a  delightful  prayer-meeting  at  De  Land, 
brethren    from    Ohio.    Brooklyn,    Illinois,    Maryland, 


92  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Florida  and  England  taking  part.  It  was  suggestive 
of  heaven.  On  the  whole  I  was  very  much  pleased 
with  the  trip.  We  escaped  severe  weather  at  home,  had 
walks  and  drives  every  day,  and  will  doubtless  derive 
much  benefit  to  health  from  it.'' 

"February,  1886.  During  September  and  October 
I  was  much  interested  in  preparing  a  'Jubilee  Paper,'  a 
history  of  the  Maryland  Baptist  Union  Association  for 
the  past  forty-nine  years.  As  I  have  been  a  member  of 
the  Board  since  1844  and  secretary  for  thirty-eiglit 
years,  I  was  more  familiar  with  the  subject  than  any 
other  person.  We  have  grown  from  four  churches  and 
345  members,  to  fifty-six  churches,  with  11,484  mem- 
bers. I  was  presented  with  a  handsome  arm-chair  and  a 
portrait  of  myself.  Since  then  I  have  worked  a  good 
deal  over  a  paper  on  the  'Sabbath,'  which  I  read  at  two 
consecutive  meetings  of  the  Ministers'  Conference. 
Several  have  asked  for  its  publication,  but  I  cannot 
think  it  worthy." 

In  October,  1887,  his  failing  eyesight  compelled  him 
to  resign  his  position  as  Secretary  of  the  Board.  His 
own  account  is  as  follows:  ''My  resignation  as  Secretary 
was  accepted.  I  have  served  forty  years  gratuitously, 
and  the  Association  has  grown  from  fourteen  churches 
to  fifty-seven,  and  the  annual  contributions  from  $800 
to  above  $8000.    Only  Dr.  Tyler,  Joseph  Mettam  and 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  93 

F.  Helm  are  living,  besides  myself,  of  the  twenty-six 
members  of  the  Board  which,  in  1847,  elected  me.  The 
Association  passed  some  very  kind  resolutions  about 
me,  and  voted  to  make  me  Honorary  Secretary  for  life." 
The  resolutions  to  which  he  so  modestly  referred  are 
as  follows: 

"Whereas,  our  brother.  Dr.  Franklin  Wilson,  for 
forty  years  Secretary  of  this  Board,  has  deemed  it  nec- 
essary, on  account  of  failing  eyesight,  to  present  his 
resignation  of  his  official  position;  and,  whereas,  the 
Board,  after  repeated  endeavors  to  have  him  reconsider 
his  decision,  and  at  his  urgent  solicitation,  finally  ac- 
cepted his  resignation,  to  take  effect  October  i,  1887, 
therefore,  resolved, 

"i.  That  we  hereby  bear  our  testimony  to  the  invalu- 
able services  so  long  rendered  by  Dr.  Wilson  to  this 
Board  and  the  Baptist  cause  of  Maryland.  These  ser- 
vices have  been  given  without  cost  to  the  denomina- 
tion, and  have  been  not  only  great  and  faithful,  but 
have  registered  themselves  in  the  continued  harmony 
and  growth  of  our  churches.  In  all  the  history  of  our 
denomination  in  this  State  no  man  has  equaled  Dr. 
Wilson  in  unselfish  devotion  and  earnest  toil.  To  him 
Maryland  Baptists  owe  the  largest  possible  debt  of 
gratitude. 

"2.  That  we  have  accepted  his  resignation  only  be- 
cause the  necessities  of  the  case  seem  to  require  it.  Had 
it  been  deemed  possible  by  Dr.  Wilson  we  should 
much  have  preferred  that  he  retain  the  position  of  Sec- 


94  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

retary,  with  such  assistance  as  he  might  require  to 
attend  to  its  duties.  As  this  was  not  felt  by  him  to  be 
the  best  course  to  pursue,  we  have  with  the  greatest 
regret  acceded  to  his  wishes. 

"3.  That  we  return  our  .sincerest  thanks  to  Dr.  Wil- 
son for  the  invaluable  services  he  has  rendered,  pledg- 
ing him  as  we  do  so  our  best  wishes  and  our  fervent 
affection,  and  hoping  that  we  may  long  enjoy  his  pres- 
ence and  counsels  in  our  Board  and  associational  meet- 
ings. 

"4.  That  in  token  of  our  appreciation  of  his  past  ser- 
vices and  of  our  confidence  in  and  affection  for  him  we 
recommend  the  Board  that  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
present  Association,  and  all  succeeding  Boards  so  long 
as  Dr.  Wilson  shall  live,  to  appoint  him,  and  insert  his 
name  in  their  report  to  the  Association,  as  Honorar}^ 
Secretary,  it  being  understood  that  this  title  shall  carry 
with  it  none  of  the  duties  or  responsibilities  of  the 
Secretarv's  ofifice. 

A.  C.  BARRON, 
A.  J.  ROWLAND, 
O.  F.  GREGORY." 

His  college  friends  were  always  dear  to  his  heart, 
and  it  was  with  great  sadness  that  he  wrote  the  folio w- 
ino-:  "Mv  dear  friend  for  fiftv-one  vears,  Rev.  Heman 
Lincoln,  died  October  18.  He  was  a  whole-hearted, 
genial  man,  of  extensive  scholarship  and  true  piety. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  vigorous  and  healthy  of  all  my 
classmates.    We  little  thought  he  would  go  first." 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  95 

In  July,  1890,  Dr.  Wilson  had  a  very  serious  attack 
of  prostration,  and  although  he  recovered  to  a  certain 
extent,  after  a  long-  stay  at  Dr.  Walters's  Sanitarium 
at  ^^^ernersville,  Pa.,  he  never  regained  his  former 
vigor,  and  lost  that  elasticity  of  step  and  energy  of 
movement,  which  had  formerly  characterized  him.  We 
read  in  his  journal  at  this  period:  "In  October  I  pre- 
sented my  resignation  as  president  of  the  'Female 
House  of  Refuge,'  after  serving  as  the  first  and  only 
President  for  twenty-three  years.  I  felt  unable  to  bear 
the  anxiety  and  responsibility  of  the  position,  and 
knew  I  could  not  do  it  justice  any  longer.'' 

This  was  a  sad  year.  Added  to  his  own  failing 
health,  several  of  his  old  friends  were  called  into  eter- 
nity. In  January  he  writes:  "And  now  my  dear  friend. 
Dr.  Eben  Dodge,  has  gone.  He  was  the  noblest  man 
I  have  ever  known,  and,  under  God,  I  owe  to  him  my 
introduction  to  the  dear  wife,  who  has  been  such  a  bless- 
ing to  me  for  forty-two  years.  May  the  Lord  prepare 
me  to  follow  him,  and  meet  him  in  that  future  life, 
where  together  we  may  adore  and  love  the  glorious 
Redeemer." 

"September  5,  1890.  During-  our  absence  from 
home  dear  Brother  West  died.  He  was  eminently  a 
good  man,  full  of  faith  and  benevolence,  kind  and  judi- 


96  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

cious,  a  real  pillar  of  our  church.     His  loss  is  a  most 
severe  one  in  every  way." 

"August,  1891.  Last  week  I  enjoyed  one  of  the  most 
delightful  little  trips  I  ever  had.  On  August  4  I  went 
with  my  eldest  son  to  Harper's  Ferry,  thence  to  a  hotel 
on  Maryland  Heights.  In  the  afternoon  we  went  to 
the  top  of  the  mountain,  I  on  horseback,  and  we  had 
grand  views  of  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  valleys. 
The  next  morning  we  drove  up  Pleasant  Valley  to 
Brownsville  and  Crampton's  Gap,  through  a  succession 
of  lovely  views  on  either  side.  *  "^^  "^  We  also  visited 
Antietam  battlefield  and  the  National  Cemetery.  There 
are  no  walks,  but  the  softest,  thickest  and  most  velvety 
turf  I  ever  trod  upon;  the  view  from  it  is  charming 
beyond  description.  '•'  '^  *  We  also  drove  through 
Boonesborough  to  Turner's  and  Fox's  gaps,  the 
scenes  of  famous  battles  in  1862.  We  had  splendid 
views  of  the  valleys  and  of  the  distant  village  of  Middle- 
town,  where  we  finished  our  day's  journey.  We  at- 
tended the  Methodist  prayer-meeting  at  night.  Next 
day  we  were  driven  to  'High  Knob,'  where  we  had  a 
most  extensive  view  of  the  Middletown  A^alley  toward 
the  west,  and  on  the  east  an  equally  wide  view  of  Mo- 
nocacy  Valley,  with  Frederick  City  and  other  towns, 
with  the  dark  green  liills  as  foreground.  We  closed 
our  trip   with'  a  walk   around   Frederick.  '•'  '''  '■'  This 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  97 

trip  is  one  which  I  have  wished  to  take  for  forty-three 
years — ever  since  1848,  when  I  preached  at  Frederick 
and  rode  thence  to  Hagerstown  on  a  stage.  Western 
Maryland  is  fully  as  beautiful  as  Berkshire  county, 
Massachusetts,  but  most  of  our  citizens  either  do  not 
know  it.  or  fail  to  appreciate  it," 


98  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

ANNIVERSARIES.— SICKNESS.— LAST    YEARS. 

"One  in  whom  persuasion  and  belief 
Had  ripened  into  faith,  and  faith  become 
A  passionate  intuition." 

— Wordsworth. 

While  old  age  brings  much  inevitable  sadness  and 
suffering,  still  there  are  many  compensations,  which, 
under  certain  conditions,  may  even  over-balance  the 
shadows  and  throw  much  sunshine  across  the  path  of 
later  years.  The  following  interesting  account  gives 
one  of  the  many  gleams  which  came  into  the  later  life 
of  this  devoted  disciple  of  Christ.  '']\\\-\q  24  (1891)  I 
returned  from  a  most  delightful  trip  to  Providence.  I 
went  there  with  my  dear  wife  to  attend  the  fiftieth  anni- 
versary of  my  graduation  in  1841.  But  eleven  mem- 
bers of  my  class  survive,  while  only  five  were  present 
at  the  supper  on  June  16 — Kendall  Brooks,  Elbridge 
Smith,  A.  M.  Gammel,  Dr.  A.  J.  Greely  and  myself. 
We  went  over  the  class  record,  and  had  many  sad  and 
pleasing  reminiscences.  There  are  many  thrilling  and 
sacred  associations  connected  with  Brown  University. 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  99 

I  called  on  Miss  Mary  Smith,  with  whom  I  boarded  in 
1836,  and  she  remembered  me  as  'one  of  the  little  Wil- 
sons' (m)^  brother  was  with  me  then).  There  my  en- 
tire life  was  directed.  I  was  converted  there  in  1838, 
was  deeply  influenced  by  my  friends,  Clarence  Hall, 
Dodge,  Lincoln,  Malcolm  and  others.  All  these  things, 
and  many  more  were  brought  into  my  mind  during  this 
visit.  'Surely  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me 
all  my  days.'  God  has  wonderfully  spared  and  blessed 
me.  May  my  few  remaining  days  be  spent  to  His 
glory." 

February  29,  1892,  just  fifty  years  from  the  time  of 
his  first  sermon,  Dr.  Wilson,  at  the  request  of  his  pas- 
tor, Dr.  A.  J.  Rowland,  prepared  some  reminiscences 
of  the  half-century,  and  spoke  from  the  Franklin 
Square  pulpit  for  nearly  fifty  minutes.  He  did  not 
seem  fatigued,  but  after  taking  his  seat,  was  seized  with 
a  violent  pain  about  the  heart,  and  almost  immediately 
lost  consciousness.  He  recovered  sufficiently  in  about 
an  hour  to  be  removed  to  his  home,  but  continued 
feeble  for  sometime,  and  never  again  enjoyed  the  same 
freedom  in  preaching.  After  some  reflections  on  the 
uncertainty  of  life,  and  his  sure  hope  in  Christ,  he  says : 
"May  God  help  me  ever  to  cling  to  the  Cross  as  'the 
anchor  of  my  soul,'  both  sure  and  steadfast.  I  have 
received  many  loving  letters  and  assurances  of  interest 


100  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

and  sympathy  from  friends  far  and  near.  This  has 
deeply  touched  me,  for  I  feel  unworthy  of  so  much 
affection."  After  this  trying  period,  his  family  endeav- 
ored to  keep  him  from  all  excitement  of  every  descrip- 
tion. He  made  no  engagements  to  take  part  in  any 
public  service,  and  relied  more  and  more  on  his  sons, 
who  watched  him  with  tender  solicitude.  But  love 
could  not  keep  away  the  angel  of  death,  which  in  May 
entered  into  the  household  so  long  unbroken,  and  took 
away  its  strongest  and  most  vigorous  member.  As 
tlie  journal  states:  "The  strong  staff,  and  the  beauti- 
ful rod.  on  which  I  had  hoped  to  lean  in  my  old  age,  is 
l)roken."  Alany  fears  were  entertained  that  the  death 
of  this  dear  son  and  namesake  away  from  his  family; 
[lie  long  journey,  only  to  arrive  too  late,  the  painful  re- 
turn to  the  desolate  home,  would  all  prove  too  great  a 
shock  to  the  already  weakened  frame.  But  the  Lord, 
in  whom  he  always  trusted  for  strength,  gave  him  sup- 
port in  these  trying  hours,  and  it  is  wonderful  to  read 
his  own  words,  Avritten  during  this  most  bitter  exper- 
rience:  'Tt  was  a  sudden,  most  unexpected  blow. 
But  I  love  to  turn  away  from  all  gloomy  thoughts,  and 
to  cherish  the  sweet  memory  of  what  he  was,  and  the 
glorious  truth  of  what  he  is,  and  to  bow  with  resigna- 
tion to  the  inscrutable  will  of  Him  'who  gave  and  who 
has  taken  awav.'     His  last  words  to  me  were  'Father, 


The  Life  ^tonj  of  FranUin  Wilson.  101 

take  care  of  yourself,'  and  I  am  glad  that  mine  to  him 
were,  'Frank,  wherever  3'ou  go,  be  sure  of  one  thing, 
that  I  have  perfect  confidence  in  you,  that  you  will  al- 
ways do  right.'  'Blessed  confidence.'  The  life  thus 
ended  was  ever  strong  and  true,  and  the  words  put 
upon  his  tomb  by  his  sorrowing  father  epitomize  thus 
his  beautiful  character." 

"A  faithful  son,  a  loving  brother,  a  self-sacrificing  friend. 
He  sleeps  in  Jesus." 

xA.fter  this  great  aftliction  Dr.  Wilson,  feeling  the 
necessity  of  having  his  only  remaining  son  near  to  him, 
and  fearing  to  pass  the  winter  in  such  isolation  from  his 
friends  and  relatives,  resolved  to  sell  the  much  loved 
"Oakley"  and  move  into  the  centre  of  the  city.  In 
September,  1892,  wt  note  this  record  in  the  journal,  so 
soon  to  be  laid  aside:  "A  memorable  day.  I  have 
this  day  signed  a  (.\QQi\  conveying  all  my  property  at 
( )akle\-,  including  my  residence,  where  for  more  than 
thirty-seven  years  we  have  had  a  lovely  and  1)cautiful 
home.  My  children  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  much  out- 
door life,  and  for  many  }'ears  it  was  indeed  a  charming 
place  for  ihem  and  our  friends.  ]\Iany  happ\-  hours 
have  been  spent  here,  and  many  delightful  family  re- 
unions have  taken  place  within  its  walls.  Hie  sun- 
shine on  every  side  of  the  house,  was  but  a  svmbol  of 


102  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

the  sweeter  life  within,  of  love  and  peace.  But  some 
sad  scenes  have  also  been  witnessed.  The  funerals  of 
Cousin  Locke,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Appleton,  and  especially 
of  our  dear  Frank,  have  brought  dark  shadows  over  it. 
We  shall  leave  it  with  reluctance  and  sorrow,  but  its 
isolation  from  our  dearest  relatives,  its  loneliness,  its 
distance  from  the  centre  of  the  city  and  other  consider- 
ations led  me,  after  much  thought  and  prayer,  to  ac- 
cept an  offer  for  the  whole  place  in  one  transaction. 

"I  have  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  rented  a  house, 
and  expect  to  move  next  week.  I  do  not  look  forward 
to  it  with  any  high  expectations.  We  are  both  feeble, 
as  well  as  aged,  and  ought  to  think  more  about  the 
'House  not  made  with  hands'  than  any  earthly  resi- 
dence." This  change  of  scene  gave  increased  oppor- 
tunities for  walking,  permitted  more  frequent  visits 
from  friends,  all  of  which  tended  to  stimulate  the  slug- 
gish faculties  and  bring  renewal  of  strength.  His  eye- 
sight, however,  continued  to  fail,  and  although  a  great 
amount  of  writing  and  reading  were  still  accomplished, 
the  much  loved  journal  was  sadly  neglected,  and  we 
hnd  only  yearly  entries,  telling  of  the  quiet,  uneventful 
life  in  the  new  home.  One  little  glimpse  into  the  home 
life  at  this  period  is  given  by  a  cousin  in  some  charm- 
ing reminiscences.  'Tn  my  mind  there  is  a  beautiful 
l)icture  which  I  shall  never  lose,  of  the  white-haired 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  103 

father  sitting  reading  at  his  desk.  I  think  I  never  saw 
him  without  a  book  in  his  hand  during  my  visit.  The 
large  study,  where  you  and  he  and  your  mother  worked 
and  read,  has  many  times  recurred  to  me  as  one  of  the 
pleasantest  of  all  the  rooms  I  have  ever  entered."  Of 
this  room  another  cousin  has  gracefully  written,  speak- 
ing of  the  two  who  had  lived  in  such  loving  companion- 
ship for  so  many  years:  "Over  the  mantel  of  the 
library  should  be  written  in  golden  letters,  'Righteous- 
ness and  peace  have  kissed  each  other.'  " 

After  the  removal  to  the  city  house,  the  summers  were 
generally  spent  in  the  country  near  Baltimore.  For  two 
years  a  pleasant  house  near  Towson  was  very  much  en- 
joyed, and  the  delightful  drives  in  that  beautiful  neigh- 
borhood, are  graphically  described  in  letters  written  at 
that  period.  The  little  Baptist  church  was  also  a  great 
pleasure,  and  he  attended  every  service  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, and  often  spoke  words  of  loving  counsel  and 
encouragement. 

He  says:     'T  bought  a  pony  for  A ,  and  with  my 

splendid  mare  ,  'Empress,'  we  had  many  beautiful 
drives.  No  place  in  Baltimore  county  will  compare 
with  it  in  the  number  of  excellent  roads  and  the  charm- 
ing scenery.  I  was  very  glad,  too,  to  be  able  to  attend 
the  'June  meeting'  at  Sater's  church,  where  I  had  the 
rare  privilege  of  saying  that  fifty  years  before,  I  had 


101  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

preached  in  that  house.  The  Towson  Baptist  Church 
was  very  near  our  house,  and  I  enjoyed  attending  its 
services,  especially  the  prayer-meetings,  where  I  al- 
ways made  short  addresses.  Twice  I  led  the  meeting 
in  the  absence  of  the  pastor,  Rev.  W.  E.  Robinson.  I 
gave  them  a  communion  table  as  a  memorial  of  my 
visit." 

The  summer  of  1895  was  spent  near  Ellicott  City, 
the  hills  and  charming  views  of  that  locality  appealing 
especially  to  his  love  of  beauty  and  delight  in  natural 
scenery.  Nothing  seemed  to  so  elevate  his  spirit  as  a 
magnificent  view.  He  would  climb  the  highest  steeps, 
feeling  amply  repaid  by  the  beauty  of  the  scene  spread 
before  him.  His  children  can  recall,  even  from  earliest 
childhood,  his  appeal  to  them  to  "look  at  the  beautiful 
view,"  and  the  almost  inspired  way  in  which  he  would 
straighten  his  slender  form  and  re])eat  some  appropri- 
ate lines  from  one  of  his  favorite  poets,  or  when  look- 
ing at  some  radiant  sunset,  he  would  reverently  quote: 
"The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  firma- 
ment showeth  His  handiwork." 

During  the  second  year  spent  at  Towson  he  was 
much  saddened  by  the  death  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  M.  Wil- 
liams, so  long  his  co-laborer  and  associate  in  all  his 
Christian  work.  Although  still  weak,  and  greatly 
overcome  by  deep  emotion,  he  attended  the  funeral  ser- 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  ^¥ilson.  105 

vices  and  paid  an  eloquent  tribute  to  his  friend  and 
brother.     We  quote  the  followino^: 

"Thoug^h  a  Httle  my  senior,  he  was  so  strong",  so  full 
of  life  and  cheer,  that  I  thought  he  would  long  outlive 
nie,  but  he  has  been  sent  for,  and  Jesus  called  him 
home.  '•'  '■'  "  We  have  known  and  loved  each 
other  for  forty-four  years;  we  have  stood  side  by  side 
and  labored  together,  and  prayed  together,  and  sor- 
rowed together.  ^'^  '■'  Well  might  I  feel,  then,  that 
in  his  death  I  have  lost  a  1)eloved  brother,  who  has 
toiled  with  me  in  the  work  of  our  Lord  Jesus.  Our 
dear  brother  was  one  of  the  last  links  that  binds  me  to 
the  past,  but  the  chain  will  be  broken  only  for  a  short 
time.  I  will  soon  join  him,  the  chain  is  now  forming, 
never  more  to  be  broken,  in  our  Father's  home  above." 

Thus  the  current  of  his  life  glided  away  until  we 
come  to  the  last  entr}',  written  just  one  year  before  the 
Lord  called  him  to  his  reward.  "October  ir,  1895. 
My  health  has  1)een  better  usually,  but  my  eyes  are 
gradually  failing.  ( )ne  is  nearly  blind,  and  the  other 
growing  daily  more  and  more  dim  and  near-sighted." 

After  speaking  of  his  pleasure  in  driving  "Empress" 
in  the  picturesque  vicinity  of  Ellicott  City,  he  says: 
"I  have  preached  three  times  for  the  Presbyterians, 
once  for  the  Methodists,  and  addressed  a  Sunday- 
school  convention.     Once  during  the  year  I  preached 


106  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

for  the  Antioch  Baptist  Church,  Waverly,  and  made  a 
good  many  short  talks  at  various  meetings.  I  rejoice 
that  I  am  not  entirely  laid  aside,  but  that  /  can  still  do  a 
little  for  the  Master''  Thus  ends  his  own  account  of 
that  busy  life.  Even  to  the  end  his  greatest  desire  was 
to  serve  that  Master,  to  whom  he  had  given  himself  in 
early  youth,  and  to  whom  all  his  fullest  manhood  had 
been  consecrated. 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  107 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

LAST  DAYS.— THE  SUMMER  OF  1896.— FAILING 
STRENGTH.— THE  PASSING  AWAY.— FUNERAL 
SERVICES. 

"There  is  no  death!  what  seems  so  is  transition. 
This  life  of  mortal  breath 
Is  but  a  suburb  of  the  life  elysian 
Whose  portal  we  call  death." 

— Longfellow. 

The  winter  of  1895-96  was  marked  by  increased 
activity  in  many  directions.  Although  for  sometime 
Dr.  Wilson  had  been  putting  his  afifairs  in  order,  and 
had  gradually  withdrawn  from  the  various  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility  occupied  by  him,  never  since 
his  illness  in  1872,  had  he  enjoyed  more  freedom  in 
speaking  and  preaching,  and  he  responded  readily  to 
many  calls  in  that  direction.  He  very  much  regretted 
his  inability  to  att^end  more  of  the  meetings  of  his 
church,  and  often  sighed  for  more  religious  privileges 
and  more  contact  with  the  people  of  God.  His  spirit 
was  as  strong  and  willing  as  ever,  but  the  flesh  was 
weak. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year  he  enjoyed  speaking  at  the 


108  The  Life  Story  of  FranMin  ^Yilmn. 

\\''averly  Church  on  the  occasion  of  its  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary, and  recalled  many  delightful  reminiscences  of  his 
family  and  friends.  How  little  those  assembled  there, 
that  Sabbath  day,  thought  that  before  another  winter 
whitened  the  ground  with  its  snows,  both  Dr.  Wilson 
and  Dr.  Harris,  the  first  and  last  pastors  of  the  church, 
would  be  called  from  the  scenes  of  their  earthly  labors. 

In  June,  Dr.  Wilson  and  his  family  went  to  New 
Castle,  X\  H.,  on  the  seacoast,  a  few  miles  from  Ports- 
mouth. Here  some  cherished  relatives  had  taken  a 
beautiful  home  for  the  season,  and  the  combined  fami- 
lies enjoyed  one  of  the  pleasantest  summers  of  their 
lives.  The  beauty  of  situation  between  the  rapid  river 
and  the  sea,  the  freshness  of  the  air,  the  charm  of  the 
neighborhood,  together  with  the  delightful  society  of 
so  many  of  his  loved  ones,  made  it  altogether  an  ideal 
spot. 

For  the  hrst  month  Dr.  AMlson  seemed  to  have  re- 
newed his  youth,  and  the  long  daily  walks  in  the  bright 
air  acted  as  a  tonic  on  his  flagging  energies.  Discov- 
ering a  little  Baptist  church  in  an  almost  dying  condi- 
tion, he  preached  there  for  several  Sundays,  attended 
the  prayer-meetings,  and  in  every  way  sought  to  keep 
the  little  life  it  still  held.  His  love  of  nature,  always 
an  unfailing  source  of  enjoyment  to  him,  seemed  to 
deepen  as  the  years  went  on,  and  as  the  vigor  of  his 


FlIANKLIX    WILSON,    New    Castle,    1896. 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  109 

physical  powers  declined,  appeared  to  yield  him  more 
and  more  exquisite  enjoyment.  Soon  prevented,  by 
growing  bodily  weakness,  from  active  participation  in 
the  outdoor  life  he  so  keenly  enjoyed,  he  many  times, 
after  an  hour  or  two  of  silent  contemplation  of  the 
beautiful  landscape  before  him,  has  said  to  one  who 
knew  him  well:  "Oh,  I  have  had  such  a  beautiful 
morning,  such  perfect  happiness!"  And  this  with  so 
rapt  an  exaltation  of  tone  and  manner,  as  to  convey  to 
the  mind  of  the  listener  an  ineffable  sense  that  he  had 
indeed  been  on  the  "Delectable  Mountains,"  and  that 
beyond  the  transient  beauties  of  earth  and  sky  and  sea, 
so  lavishly  displayed  before  him,  he  had  caught  a  vision 
of  the  imperishable  glory  of  the  Celestial  City. 

As  he  daily  grew  w^eaker  he  never  complained, 
though  the  desire  to  live  was  strong  within  him,  and  his 
love  for  the  beautiful  never  seemed  to  fail.  One  of  his 
nieces,  writing  after  his  death,  says:  "The  patient, 
lovely  man ;  I  shall  never  forget  how  sweet  he  was  this 
summer;  how  grateful  for  the  smallest  attention.  "  '^" 
Again,  a  stranger  who  met  him  for  the  first  time  writes: 
"I  am  so  glad  I  had  the  opportunity  of  making  his  ac- 
quaintance, being  able  to  recall  vividly  his  sweet  and 
gentle  bearing."  It  seemed  strange  to  see  him  mov- 
ing so  languidly,  stopping  often  to  recover  the  needed 
breath.     He  who  had  alwavs  been  so  active,  so  ner- 


110  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

vously  athletic,  bounding  up  stairs,  often  two  steps  at 
a  time.  It  soon  became  apparent  that  some  change 
was  necessary,  and  although  his  physician  did  not 
anticipate  any  immediate  danger,  it  was  thought  best 
to  return  to  Baltimore. 

On  the  7th  of  September  a  last  good-bye  was  said  to 
beautiful  New  Castle,  and  the  long  journey  homeward 
begun.  Everything  was  made  as  easy  as  possible,  and 
Baltimore  was  reached  at  9  o'clock  P.  M.  the  next  day. 
For  a  short  time  he  seemed  to  revive  somewhat,  and 
enjoyed  "the  being  at  home"  and  the  daily  drives  with 
his  loved  horse  ''Empress."  But  the  shadows  soon 
began  to  steal  back  again,  and  the  weakness  and  short- 
ness of  breath  continued  with  renewed  intensity,  in 
spite  of  the  loving  watch  care  of  friends  and  physicians. 
(3n  the  17th  of  September  it  was  decided  to  leave  his 
own  house,  and  remove  for  the  winter  to  the  residence 
of  his  son,  on  St.  Paul  street,  feeling  that  in  such  a 
crisis  the  few  that  were  left  should  cling  together.  The 
daily  drives  were  continued,  even  though  the  days  were 
cool  and  dark.  They  seemed  to  be  the  only  solace — 
the  bright  spots  amid  the  gathering  gloom. 

He  asked  to  be  driven  to  all  the  well-known  scenes 
of  his  past  life — to  Waverly,  where  was  spent  his  happy 
boyhood;  to  the  site  of  "Oakley,"  the  dear  home  for  so 
many  years,  now,  alas,  entirely  destroyed;  by  the  dif- 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  WiUon.  Ill 

ferent  Baptist  churches  and  the  locahties  where  he  had 
labored  from  time  to  time.  Living  over  thus  again 
days  that  were  past,  recalHng  incidents  and  the  loved 
ones  of  the  long  ago.  Precious  memories  will  these 
autumn  drives  ever  remain  to  those  who  had  the  great 
and  inestimable  privilege  of  being  with  him. 

Only  once,  on  communion  Sunday,  did  he  attend 
church  after  his  return,  and  how  he  enjoyed  it.  But  it 
was  a  great  effort,  and  the  week  that  followed  was  one 
of  great  prostration.  He  struggled  hard  to  keep  on  as 
usual,  but  in  vain.  Sunday  and  Monday,  October  ii 
and  12,  he  was  forced  to  stay  in  his  room,  although  sit- 
ting in  his  chair,  and  still  planning  and  making  ar- 
rangements for  the  numberless  things  he  wished  at- 
tended to.  As  someone  said:  "The  dear  man  lived 
just  as  long  as  his  body  would  hold  him."  His  spirit 
was  ever  strong,  and  to  the  end  he  wanted  to  do,  as  he 
had  always  done. 

At  this  time  the  Ministers'  Conference  sent  to  ask  if 
they  might  call  upon  him  together,  and  express  the 
sympathy  and  love  they  entertained  toward  one  who 
had  labored  so  long  and  so  faithfully  in  the  vineyard, 
and  present  resolutions  they  had  prepared  on  the  fif- 
tieth anniversary  of  his  ordination.  This  pleasure  he 
was  obliged  to  deny  himself,  though  he  received  a  num- 
ber of  the  ministers  individually,  and  greatly  enjoyed 


112  Tlie  Life  Story  of  FrankHii  Wilso7i. 

his  conversations  with  them.  The  resolutions  were 
received  only  the  day  before  his  death,  when  he  w^as 
too  weak  to  hear  them.  A  few  extracts  may  be  given 
here: 

''He  has  been  an  active  leader  in  all  plans  for  philan- 
thropic and  reform  work  in  Baltimore,  and  in  all  those 
iniion  efforts  where  we  have  united  with  other  denomi- 
nations for  a  common  cause.  His  presence  in  our  pas- 
tors' conference  has  been  a  constant  source  of  pleasure 
and  profit  to  those  associated  with  him,  and  we  desire  to 
express  to  our  beloved  and  honored  brother  our  hearty 
congratulations  that  the  God  whom  he  loves  and  serves 
should  have  spared  him  to  this  jubilee  anniversary  of 
his  ordination.  '•'  ^  '''  In  presenting  this  slight 
testimonial  of  our  loving  esteem,  we  would  earnestly 
desire  to  be  found  ourselves  in  the  same  line  of  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  to  the  work  of  the  denomination 
and  the  cause  of  Christ,  as  he  has  ever  exemplified  in 
his  life,  and  to  assure  him  that  although  he  has  seen 
the  friends  and  fellow-laborers  of  his  youth  and  riper 
years  pass  away,  that  w^e  who  have  the  privilege  of  be- 
ing pastors  of  Baptist  churches  in  Baltimore  w^ill  strive 
to  push  forward  the  interests  that  were  always  so  dear 
to  his  heart,  and  to  continue  the  work  upon  the  broad 
foundations  he  has  laid.  '■"  "^^  =•'  Desiring  to  cele- 
brate this  anniversary  by  some  appropriate  token,  we 
present  him  w^ith  this  simple  expression  of  our  love, 
signed  by  every  member  of  the  Baptist  Conference,  as 
a  token  that.     "^^     '■'     we  who,  by  God's  grace,  are  per- 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  113 

mitted  to  be  in  the  thick  of  the  fray,  will  endeavor,  .God 
being  our  helper,  to  maintain  the  purity  of  the  Baptist 
churches  of  Maryland  and  the  doctrine  and  discipline 
'''  '-^  until  the  gospel  of  Christ  is  preached  in  every 
county  of  our  State." 

During  these  last  days  he  had  many  conversations 
with  his  dear  ones,  and  on  Sunday  afternoon  one  of 
them  wrote  down  the  words  as  they  fell  from  his  lips  in 
somewhat  disconnected  sentences.  On  being  asked 
what  was  his  favorite  text  he  immediately  replied, 
''God  so  loved  the  world  that  He  gave  His  only  begot- 
ten Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."  *  *  'The  whole 
gospel  is  found  in  the  third  chapter  of  Romans,  espe- 
cially in  the  twenty-third  and  twenty-fourth  verses, 
*  "''  all  in  a  nut-shell.  I  stake  my  salvation  on  that 
text.  I  want  you  all  to  understand  that  it  is  my  only 
hope.  Nothing  that  I  have  done,  or  could  do,  would 
entitle  me  to  heaven.  *  '•'  Jesus  only,  He  is  all  and  in 
all.  *  "^  Mercy,  that  is  all  I  ask.  Onesipherous 
was  a  good  man,  but  Paul  said  he  needed  mercy.  "^  * 
For  this  is  the  blood  of  the  New  Testament,  which  is 
shed  for  many,  for  the  remission  of  sins.  He  came  to 
give  His  life  a  ransom  for  many.  "^  '^  Paul  knew;  he 
said,  'Not  having  my  own  righteousness,'  etc.  *  "^  It  is 
my  only  hope;  what  I  have  preached,  and  what  I  have 


114  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  WUso7i. 

believed,  nothing-  but  the  mercy  of  God;  without  that, 
all  is  dark." 

Again  during  the  afternoon  he  said  several  times: 
"My  anchor  holds,"  and  asked  for  the  hymn  in  which 
the  lines  occur.  When  it  was  read  to*  him  he  said : 
"Yes,  that  is  true."  On  Christ  the  Solid  Rock  I  stand, 
all  other  ground  is  sinking  sand."  He  then  spoke  of 
his  last  sermon,  from  the  text:'  "For  me  to  live  is 
Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain."  He  seemed  to  rejoice  that 
he  had  preached  from  that  text,  and  gave  a  slight  out- 
line of  what  he  had  said.  "The  central  idea  was  life, 
and  the  different  heads  formed  an  acrostic,  which  could 
be  easily  remembered. 

"Like  Christ, 
In  Christ, 
For  Christ, 
Eternal  life." 

Although  he  said  little  about  dying,  he  was  perfectly 
ready  and  willing  to  go.  He  would  rather  have  lived 
longer,  and  worked  more,  for  his  beloved  Master,  but 
when  the  summons  came,  he  as  ever  yielded  to  God's 
will  with  beautiful  resignation.  In  speaking  about 
heaven  he  said:  "All  I  want  to  know  is  in  the  four- 
teenth chapter  of  John:  *I  go  to  prepare  a  place -for 
you.  '•'  '''  I  will  come  again  and  receive  you  unto 
Myself.'     Jesus  prepared  the  place.  Jesus  there,  that 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  115 

makes  heaven."  "My  Father's  House  '■'  "■■'  better 
things  for  us,  '"  '•'  I  have  Hved  a  long  life,  I  am 
content." 

After  a  night  of  great  suffering  and  weariness,  he  sank 
into  a  semi-conscious  state  that  lasted  throughout 
Tuesday.  At  intervals  he  roused  somewhat,  but  never 
spoke  connectedly  on  any  subject,  the  drowsiness  ever 
deepening  until  at  ten  minutes  after  twelve  Wednes- 
day morning,  October  14,  his  spirit  passed  into  ever- 
lasting light  and  his  earthly  home  was  left  desolate. 

As  soon  as  the  sad  news  became  known  telegrams 
and  letters  came  from  all  over  the  country,  and  loving 
friends,  themselves  stricken  with  grief,  flocked  to  the 
house  of  mourning.  The  simple  funeral  services  at  the 
house,  reading  of  the  scriptures  and  prayer  by  his  pas- 
tor. Rev.  S.  W.  Melton,  were  followed  by  the  more  ex- 
tended service  at  the  Franklin  Square  Church,  where 
the  different  city  ministers  took  part  and  the  congre- 
gation was  permitted  to  look  once  more  upon  the  face 
of  him  they  so  loved  and  reverenced.  Among  the 
many  beautiful  floral  tributes  was  one  sent  by  the  girls 
of  the  Female  House  of  Refuge,  "who  received  the 
news  of  his  death  with  much  emotion,  and  gave  of 
their  own  little  store  to  procure  this  token  of  their  love 
and  esteem." 

At  the  closing  of  this  beautiful  October  day  the  mor- 


no  The  Life  Story  of  Fro  aid  in  Wilson. 

tal  remains  of  the  beloved  minister  of  Christ,  were  laid 
to  rest  with  those  of  his  father  and  mother,  and  of  his 
dearly  beloved  son,  in  the  vault  at  Greenmount. 

"The  memory  of  die  just  is  blessed." 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  U' 


CHAPTER    IX. 

PERSONAL    CHARACTERISTICS    AND    CHRISTIAN 
CITIZENSHIP. 

"Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright:  for  the  end 
of  that  man  is  peace." — Psalm  xxxvii. 

This  simple  life  story  would  be  incomplete  were 
there  no  mention  of  those  personal  characteristics, 
known  only  to  his  family  and  to  those  near  relatives 
and  friends  who  shared  with  them  the  privilege  of  his 
close  companionship.  In  his  home  he  was  ever  a  de- 
Hghtful  companion.  Plis  children  looked  upon  him  as 
their  dearest  friend,  and  came  to  him  with  the  greatest 
freedom,  telling  him  all  their  little  troubles  and  joys, 
always  sure  of  finding  perfect  sympathy  and 'under- 
standing. 

Many  delightful  hours  has  he  spent  with  them,  and 
"to  go  with  father"  was  always  considered  a  high  privi- 
lege, for  did  he  not  anticipate  all  the  childish  desire  for 
information,  pointing  out  all  the  objects  of  interest 
and  patiently  explaining  the  many  whys  and  where- 
fores that  so  constantly  come  into  the  brain  of  an  active 
child. 


118  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin   Wilson. 

With  his  skilful  pencil  he  would  entertain  the  little 
group  by  the  wonderful  sketches  and  scenes  that  so 
easily  grew  into  being  under  his  practiced  fingers, 
often  illustrating  continued  stories,  that  were  ever  a 
delight  to  the  trio.  Again,  making  the  Bible  lessons 
more  vivid  with  his  graphic  pictures.  As  his  children 
grew  older  he  still  remained  their  cherished  companion 
and  confidante,  his  sons  never  outgrowing  their  child- 
ish habit  of  telling  him  everything  of  interest  that  oc- 
curred in  their  daily  lives. 

As  the  years  passed,  bringing  old  age  with  steps  so 
slow  and  gentle,  that  its  approach  was  hardly  percep- 
tible, he  cared  less  and  less  for  general  society,  but  was 
entirely  content  with  his  own  little  circle.  "What  can 
I  want  more,"  he  would  often  say,  "when  I  have  with 
"me  those  whom  I  love  best  on  earth?"  While  preserv- 
ing to  the  last  a  vivid,  almost  youthful  interest  in  the 
every-day  life  of  those  around  him,  nothing  annoyed 
him  more  than  any  form  of  gossip,  and  hi.s  instant  and 
continued  silence  when  the  conversation  assumed  a 
personal  turn  was  always  a  more  eloquent  rebuke  than 
the  severest  censure  in  words  would  have  been. 

Few  besides  that  inner  circle  knew  that  with  his  in- 
tense devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  which  always 
commanded  his  most  earnest  and  loving  service,  there 
was  also  a  poetic  quality,  a  passionate  love  of  the  beau- 


The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  119 

tifiil  in  nature  and  in  art.  From  his  facile  pen  there 
fiovved  many  deHghtful  verses,  most  of  them  of  too 
intimate  and  personal  a  nature  to  be  recorded  here. 
The  following  lines,  written  when  little  more  than  a 
boy,  indicate  the  youthful  promise  and  the  poetic  tem- 
perament : 

LINES   ON   THE   DEATH    OF   REV.   WM.    H.    BOTT, 
NOVEMBER   26,  1841. 

"Let  Zion  shroud  her  beauteous  head 

And  weep,  in  mourning  clad, 
For  one  is  numbered  widi  the  dead 

Who  made  her  children  glad. 
To  weary  mortals  sick  of  earth, 

Welcome  the  monster's  sting; 
His  hopes  had  just  bloomed  into  birth, 

His  life  was  in  its  spring. 

"His  heart  a  sacred  altar  burned 

With  pure  devotion's  fire; 
Oft  to  the  place  of  prayer  he  turned 

With  Jesus  to  retire. 
In  virtue's  cause  he  might  have  stood, 

A  glorious  beacon  light, 
To  guide  the  footsteps  of  the  good. 

And  cheer  death's  gloomy  night. 

"What  though  erect  his  manly  form, 

And  bright  his  youthful  eye, 
As  falls  the  strong  oak  'neath  the  storm, 

So  was  he  called  to  die. 


120  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Death's  iron  hand  is  on  that  brow 

Which  spoke  the  noble  heart; 
That  voice  is  hushed  in  silence  now 

Which  made  the  tear-drops  start. 

"Clouds  may  obscure  the  queen  of  night 

And  veil  her  silver  bow, 
Yet  still  she  shines  serenely  bright, 

Though  hid  from  all  below. 
So  does  his  ransomed  spirit  burn 

Before  the  throne  of  God; 
Let  Zion  from  her  mourning  turn, 

And  meekly  kiss  the  rod." 

No  one  ever  loved  the  services  of  the  Lord's  house 
with  more  devotion.  Wherever  he  went  he  would  seek 
out  the  little  church,  and  make  glad  the  hearts  of  the 
faithful  few  by  his  words  of  encouragement  and  cheer. 
The  prayer-meeting  was  very  dear  to  him,  and  through- 
out his  life  he  esteemed  it  one  of  his  highest  joys,  and 
felt  his  enforced  absence  in  the  last  few  years  of  his  life 
as  a  personal  loss. 

He  was  always  interested  in  everything  that  affected 
those  he  knew,  however  slightly,  and  by  his  ready  sym- 
pathy endeared  himself  to  people  in  every  station  in 
life.  The  most  humble  and  uneducated  never  felt  em- 
barrassed in  his  presence,  but  were  sure  of  a  ready  hear- 
ing, of  counsel,  and,  if  needed,  of  material  aid  when  it 
was  within  his  power.  It  seemed  as  if  his  deep  and 
absorbing  sense  of  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson.  121 

brotherhood  of  man,  ennobled  in  his  eyes  the  humblest 
and  most  obscure  of  those  with  who,m  he  came  in  con- 
tact. 

He  was  naturally  of  a  sanguine,  hopeful  tempera- 
ment, and  although  in  times  of  physical  weakness  he 
would  occasionally  falter  and  become  depressed,  he 
never  lost  heart,  nor  ever  for  a  moment  ceased  effort 
with  word  and  deed  alike  to  do  good  to  mankind. 
Deeply  interested  in  any  movement  affecting  the  wel- 
fare of  humanity,  his  influence  and  powers  were  always 
found  arrayed  in  the  front  rank  of  any  cause  which  had 
for  its  motive  the  betterment  of  humanity,  the  advance- 
ment of  his  fellow-man.  So  we  find  him  one  of  the  first 
to  recognize  the  great  truth,  that  in  the  young  lies  the 
hope  of  the  nation. 

For  thirty-six  years  president  of  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees of  the  Baltimore  Orphan  Asylum,  he  never  lost 
his  interest  in  its  progress  and  welfare,  and  was  pro- 
foundly convinced  that  the  rescue  of  children  from 
vicious  lives  was  the  best  guarantee  of  a  nation's  safety. 
He  was  a  Trustee  of  Columbian  University  at  Wash- 
ington from  1847  to  1872,  and  overseer  from  1872  to 
his  death.  He  was  given  the  degree  of  D.  D.  by  this 
institution  in  1865. 

He  was  also  the  promoter  and  agitator  of  the  move- 
menthere  against  the  Romanists,  who  were,  even  during 


122  The  Life  ^tory  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

his  youth,  seeking  to  control  our  public  schools.  He 
planned  and  arranged  for  a  great  meeting  to  express 
abhorrence  at  the  action  of  the  Tuscan  government  in 
persecuting  the  Madiai  and  others  for  ''conscience 
sake."  Unlike  many  deeply  religious  natures,  his 
sense  of  the  eternal  and  infinite  reality  of  the  divine 
universe,  never  obscured  his  clear  vision  of  his  duty  as 
a  citizen,  and  with  the  best  interests  of  the  city  at  heart 
he  practically  exemplified  the  truth,  that  "He  best 
serves  God  who  serves  his  fellow-men." 

Firmly  adhering  all  his  life  to  the  Baptist  principles, 
of  liberty  of  conscience  and  separation  of  ''Church  and 
State,"  he  was  entirely  opposed  to  the  exemption  of 
church  property  from  taxation,  and  prepared  and  read 
before  the  Taxpayers'  Association  an  elaborate  paper 
in  support  of  his  position.  He  also  wrote  articles  op- 
posing as  unconstitutional  the  taxation  of  mortgages 
and  ground  rents,  and  had  them  circulated  among 
members  of  the  legislature. 

In  person  he  was  very  slender,  and  of  ruddy  com- 
plexion. His  hair,  that  in  early  youth  had  been  black 
and  glossy,  soon  began  to  whiten,  so  that  his  children 
scarcely  remember  when  there  was  not  a  touch  of  frost 
in  that  thick  hair,  which  in  his  later  life  became  a  most 
beautiful  silvery  white.  That  gentle,  benign  presence, 
watched  for  with  such  loving'devotion  during  the  ses- 


The  Life  titory  of  Franklin  Wilson.  123 

sions  of  the  Association,  or  other  like  assembhes,  where 
he  always  took  a  prominent  part;  that  venerable  coun- 
tenance, with  its  silvery  crown,  ever  breathing  out  ben- 
edictions of  peace,  will  be  sorely  missed  from  among 
his  brethren,  while  the  sight  of  his  vacant  chair  in  the 
family  circle,  the  daily  burden  of  a  life  without  his  lov- 
ing companionship,  can  only  be  borne  by  the  ever- 
growing realization  of  his  present  glory,  that  for  him 
"To  depart  and  be  with  Christ  is  far  better.'^ 


124  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  ^Vilson. 


CHAPTER    X. 

EXTRACTS  FROM  LETTERS. 

"The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
Shall  floiirish*when  lie  sleeps  in  dust." 

— Tate  and  Brady. 

From  Dr.  George  B.  Taylor,  Rome,  Italy: 
.   ''Yesterday  I  heard  with  a  sliock  of  pain,  followed 
by  depression,  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Franklin  Wilson. 
My  cry  was,  'Help,  Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceaseth, 
the  faithful  fail  from  the  children  of  men.' 

"Since  then  I  have  been  thinking  much  of  you,  and 
commending  you  all  to  the  God  of  all  comfort.  Ah, 
how  great  is  your  loss!  For  nearly  half  a  century  you 
have  walked  by  the  side  of  one  of  the  best  men  God 
ever  made.  Few,  if  any,  outside  of  your  home  know  as 
well  as  I  the  goodness  and  sweetness  and  deep  piety  of 
Dr.  Wilson,  and  by  so  much  as  he  was,  beyond  most, 
worthy  of  love  and  esteem,  is  your  afTfliction  great  in 
a  sense  not  to  be  expressed  in  words..  My  own  loss  is 
great,  for  he  was  ever  kind  to  me,  a  wise,  helpful  friend 
— ^aye,  more  than  a  friend,  an  affectionate  elder  brother. 
He  has  been  a  part  of  my  life  for  forty  years,  so  that  I 


The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  WiUon.  125 

feel  as  if  a  pillar  was  gone,  one  next  to  my  own  father 
and  mother.  For  him  death  is  but  a  translation  to  the 
world  of  perfect  blessedness.  We  must  just  try  to  fol- 
low him  as  he  followed  Christ.  *  "^  *" 

Dr.  Charles  Taylor,  Wake  Forrest  College,  N.  C. : 
"He  could  say  with  truth,  as  his  Master  said,  'It  is 
finished.'     After  a  long  life,  crowded  with  usefulness 
and  crowned  with  victory,  Brother  Wilsorrhas  gone 
home  to  heaven. 

"I  do  not  know  that  I  have  ever  been  brought  into 
contact  with  a  man  who  impressed  me  as  being  more 
Christlike.  Along  with  deep  convictions,  there  was  a 
peculiar  gentleness  of  manner  which  characterized  him. 
By  his  example  and  by  his  beautiful  spirit  he  preached 
more  eloquently  and  effectively  than  many  to  whom 
more  of  utterance  had  not  been  denied.  It  was  with 
him  as  some  one  said  of  Baxter,  'His  life  zvas  a  finger 
alzvays  pointing  to  heaven.'  " 

Dr.  A.  E.  Dickinson,  of  the  "Religious  Herald:" 
"He  was  one  of  the  best  of  men.    My  own  heart  was 
bound  to  him  from  the  first  day  I  made  his  acquaint- 


Dr.  A.  J.  Rowland,  his  pastor  for  eleven  years: 
"No  man  I  ever  know  was  dearer  to  me  than  Dr. 


126  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

Wilson,  and  there  never  was  a  man  whose  friendship 
I  valued  more.  I  could  not  have  loved  him  more  if  he 
had  been  my  own  father  or  brother.  Some  of  the 
sweetest  memories  of  my  life  will  be  connected  with 
him.  He  was  my  right  hand  in  the  pastorate,  my  coun- 
sel in  hours  of  doubt  and  my  constant  inspiration.  I 
do  not  like  to  think  that  I  will  see  his  kindly  face  no 
more  on  earth.  His  departure  makes  a  void  in  my 
heart  and  life  that  nothing  can  fill.  *  ^  =5^  And  again, 
with  all  his  attainments,  he  was  as  humble  as  a  child, 
and  had  attained  as  nearly  perfect  a  character  as  men 
are  likely  to  secure  in  this  world." 

Rev.  E.  Y.  Mullins,  Newton,  Mass.: 

"Few  of  the  many  noble  men  I  have  known  have  im- 
pressed me  and  benefited  me  as  did  Dr.  Wilson.  For 
manliness  of  the  highest  type,  strength-  combined  with 
gentleness,  for  purity  and  elevation  of  character,  for 
clear  judgment  and  practical  wisdom,  for  unswerving 
loyalty  to  Christ  and  truth,  and  withal  for  winningness 
and  lovableness  of  spirit,  I  have  rarely  seen  his  equal. 
Grand,  noble  man;  he  has  gone  to  his  own  place;  with 
Christ.  ^^  ^  *" 

Rev.  W.  E.  Robertson,  Towson: 
"I    often    think    with    pleasure    of    the    two    sum- 
mers he  spent  in  Towson,  and  always  felt  that  he  was 


The  Life  l<llonj  of  Franklin  ^V\li<on.  1.27 

such  a  help  to  me  in  my  work.  I  was  ever  glad  to 
avail  myself  of  an  opportunity  to  hear  his  words  of 
wisdom  and  his  wise  counsels.  I  felt  towards  him  as  a 
son  to  a  father.  '''  '■'  *  Our  entire  church  loved  him 
and  appreciated  the  help  he  has  frequently  given  in 
various  ways." 

Huntingdon  Baptist  Church,  Waverly: 
''It  is  with  deepest,  heartfelt  regret  that  we  learn  of 
the  death  of  one  who  we  looked  upon  as  the  father  of 
our  flock  and  the  first  pastor  of  this  church;  who  so 
tenderly  and  faithfully  cared  for  and  watched  over  this 
part  of  the  Lord's  cause  here  in  its  infancy,  and  through 
whose  efforts  we  now  enjoy  the  full  benefits  of  a  pros- 
perous church  which  has  been  the  instrument  of  direct- 
ing many  a  sin-tossed  soul  to  that  eternal  haven  of  rest, 
who  will  greet  him  on  those  shores.  Truly  a  good 
man  has  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus;  thereby  we  as  a  church, 
and  our  denomination  in  this  city  have  sustained  a 
great  loss." 

Superintendent  of  the  "Female  House  of  Refuge:" 
"I  sincerely  loved  him.  He  was  one  of  the  best 
earthly  friends  to  me  and  mine  I  ever  had.  He  was  a 
man  of  splendid  executive  ability,  a  wise  counselor  and 
a  true  friend.  In  his  death  earth  has  lost  one  of  its 
brightest  jewels." 


Iii8  The  Life  Story  of  Franklin  Wilson. 

From  former  members  of  High  Street  Church: 
"We  loved  and  reverenced  our  dear  Brother  Wilson 
beyond  the  power  of  words  to  express.  Such  a  noble, 
godly,  Christlike  man — who  could  do  otherwise  that 
knew  him?  His  beautiful  life,  so  full  of  faith  and  good 
works,  his  ministry  in  the  gospel,  influence  and  ex- 
ample, wide  and  far-reaching,  will  all  be  missed.  But 
what  unspeakable  happiness  is  his  now,  in  the  presence 
of  that  Saviour  whom  he  loved,  honored  and  served  so 
faithfully! 

"  'Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servent;  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.' " 

From  young  members  of  Franklin  Square  Church: 
''In  the  death  of  Dr.  Wilson  each  one  of  us  is  con- 
scious of  a  personal  loss.    We  cannot  but  rriiss  the  ex- 
ample of  that  consecrated  Christian  life." 

From  some  who  have  been  helped  by  him  in  various 
ways : 

"It  was  a  sermon  preached  by  him  that  w^as,  under 
God,  the  immediate  cause  of  my  conversion,  and  I  have 
always  found  him,  as  I  always  regarded  him,  my  father 
in  the  gospel.  To  me  it  is  a  personal  loss.'''  '•'  "^^  In  my 
great  trouble  no  one  of  all  my  friends  gave  me  more 
soothing  comfort  than  Dr.  Wilson.  His  letter  has  been 
a  stay  and  a  balm  many  times  when  my  heart  was  over- 
whelmed with  grief.  *'  '^  *" 


The  Life  Story  of  Fmuldin  ^\'Uson.  129 

"What  joy  it  is  to  look  back  upon  his  pure  and  spot- 
less life,  his  untiring  efforts  in  behalf  of  poor  lost  sin- 
ners, his  kind  and  sympathetic  heart!  Surely  his 
crown  is  even  now  resplendent  with  stars." 

''Never  have  I  known  a  man  who  so  thoroughly  im- 
pressed me  with  his  unselfish  Christianity.  He  exem- 
plified in  his  daily  life  all  those  principles  of  religion  in 
which  he  was  such  an  earnest  believer,  and  for  which 
he  sacrificed  so  much.  Many  there  are  who  will  miss 
his  kindly  voice,  and  gentle  teachings.  For  myself,  I 
can  only  say,  that  his  kindness  to  me  in  an  hour  of  sore 
trouble  will  never  be  forgotten  while  I  live." 

"He  was  one  of  the  few  almost  perfect  men  whom  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  knowing.  "^  '''  Such  gentleness 
of  spirit  and  pure  Christian  character  are  rarely  found." 

From  dear  friends  and  relatives: 

"Since  the  news  came  I  have  been  thinking  of  my 
association  with  him,  of  the  weeks  spent  under  his  roof, 
when  he  treated  me  with  the  affection  as  of  a  father, 
and  as  a  companion.  Many  kind  words  of  advice,  of 
explanation  of  the  Bible,  etc.,  come  back  to  me  now. 
Above  all,  there  was  his  courteous  Christian  spirit,  gen- 
tle and  attractive. 

"I  can  testify  to  his  unvarying  kindness  to  all  whose 


laO  The  Life  ^tory  of  Fraiiliin  Wilson. 

lives  touclied  his,  and  I  look  back  lovingly  at  his  devo- 
tion to  me,  when  I  was  in  sore  need  of  a  friend." 

"Your  father  always  seemed  to  me  quite  different 
from  anyone  else  in  his  exquisite  gentleness  and  jus- 
tice of  spirit,  and  I  loved  and  admired  him  much  more 
than  I  can  tell  you.'' 

"I  loved  him  dearly,  and  I  have  ahva\s  considered 
him  the  best  man  in  all  this  world  of  sin  and  sorrow." 

"I  don't  think  T  ever  knew  such  a  Christian  man  as 
he  was,  nor  so  humble  and  noble  a  one." 

''His  was  a  beautiful  and  noble  life." 

"He  was  very  near  my  heart,  and  all  the  memories 
of  childhood  are  associated  with  his  loving,  gentle 
influence." 


"All  our  family  owe  him  a  lasting  remembrance. 
His  great  kindness  can  never  be  forgotten — how  gen- 
erous to  all." 


"He  was  the  best  man  that  ever  lived,  and  I  ahvays 
felt  he  was  like  Enoch,  he  walked  with  God.  I  feel  as 
if  heaven  were  richer  for  his  coming:," 


"In  all  my  long  observation,  I  have  never  known  one 


The  Life  Story  of  Franldin  Wilson.  131 

who  better  filled  out  the  pieture  of  a  perfect  man,  and 
who  may  be  held  ii])  as  a  model  of  noble  manhood,  and 
as  a  pattern  Christian  gentleman." 

From  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Baltimore: 
"1  have  known  your  father  for  many  years,  and. 
while  I  have  not  seen  much  of  him  in  recent  years,  and 
the  difference  in  age  has  forbidden  anything  like  inti- 
macy, yet  my  relations  with  him  have  ahvays  been  so 
kindly  and  pleasant  that  T  have  always  regarded  him  as 
a  friend,  and  learned  to  ap])reciate  his  high  sense  of 
dut}-,  his  noble  nature  and  amiable  qualities.  I  have 
always  thought  he  was  one  of  the  best  of  men  in  all  his 
relations,  both  as  respects  his  family  and  as  a  citizen, 
with  a  distinguishing  sense  of  what  was  just  and  right 
that  governed  him  in  all  his  acts,  and  I  only  regret  that 
I  did  not  know  him  intimately.  You  should  be  proud 
of  the  reputation  he  has  left  behind  him,  as  I  believe  no 
one  who  lives,  can  truthfully  say  a  word  that  can  reflect 
upon  his  good  name  in  any  relation  of  life." 

Dr.  John  Pollard,  from  an  article  in  the  ''Religious 
Herald": 

"He  was  a  man  of  highest  character.  He  lived  for 
the  good  he  could  do.  His  time,  his  wealth,  his  voice, 
■his  pen,  were  all  at  the  service  of  the  cause  for  which 
Jesus  stained  w^ith  His  blood  the  rugged  cross.      He 


132  The  Life  Story  of  Franklhi  Wilson. 

was  modest,  but  courageous,  charitable,  but  true  as 
steel  to  every  conviction." 

"Servant  of  God,  well  done! 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ; 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 
Enter  thy  ]\Iaster's  joy! 

"The  pains  of  death  are  past, 
Labor  and  sorrow  cease. 
And,  life's  long  warfare  closed  at  last, 
His  soul  is  found  in  peace. 

"Soldier  of  Christ,  well  done! 
Praise  be  thy  now  employ; 
And,  while  eternal  ages  run. 
Rest  in  thy  Saviour's  joy." 


J. 


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